Scientists are targeting thunderstorms across the U.S. to discover what happens when clouds suck up air from Earth’s surface many miles into the atmosphere.

Many facets of everyday life, from boarding a plane to turning on the lights or driving down the highway, are becoming safer and more cost-effective with the help of technologies rooted in atmospheric science.

A partnership between NCAR and Xcel Energy has produced a wind forecasting system that is widely considered to be one of the most advanced of its kind.

Specially developed forecasts aim to help public health officials in Africa coordinate an international immunization program against meningitis, an often deadly disease associated with dry, dusty weather patterns.

Taking aim at a sometimes deadly aviation hazard, NCAR has developed high-precision maps to warn pilots away from clouds harboring the potential to ice up their wings