The Fredy & Nadine Herrmann

Groundbreaking Research Links Atmospheric Electric Fields to Weather Prediction

Dr. Roy Yaniv, along with collaborators Dr. Assaf Hochman and Prof. Yoav Yair from Reichmann University, have discovered a novel method to predict severe weather events through atmospheric electric field measurements. The study revealed that during "Cyprus Lows" weather systems, electric field values surge dramatically from 100-200 to thousands of volts per meter before heavy rainfall. Published in Atmospheric Research, this research demonstrates how monitoring electric field variations could enhance early warning systems for extreme weather events, particularly crucial for regions like Israel that are vulnerable to sudden weather changes. This innovative approach could significantly improve community preparedness in areas prone to flash floods and severe weather conditions.

For the full paper 

Press article 

Torrential rains are falling across the Sahara in the last few days (Sep 2024), triggering high-magnitude floods in ephemeral desert streams. 

Heavy precipitation events are frequent in summertime over the Sahara's southern side, as noted by Armon et al. (2024). 

This year, in response to an extratropical cyclone, these rains moved northward and thunderstorms were observed in the northwestern Sahara.

This mechanism, described in a preprint article now under review (link) triggered high-magnitude floods in the northwestern Sahara, which filled up dry desert lakes, as seen in this post by NASA. 

More on this Saharan rainfall event in this episode of the BBC's Science in Action.

Sebkha el Melah (13/9/2024), a normally dry lake in the Sahara was filled by the recent floods.

Image source: NASA Worldview