NOAA

This year's extra-large El Nino weather pattern is over, according to federal meteorologists. The pattern brought heavy rain to many parts of the country and was one of the strongest ever.

The past three hurricane seasons have been considered below normal, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says. This season, NOAA predicts about four to eight hurricanes in the Atlantic.

Scientists are exploring creatures and habitats in the deepest parts of the ocean, and you can follow along by watching a live video stream.

A robotic vehicle was exploring the ocean floor by Hawaii, more than 2 1/2 miles underwater. To the surprise of NOAA scientists, it came across a cute, "ghostlike" octopod. One suggested name: Casper.

Instead of quiet, researchers hear sounds of earthquakes, ships, "the distinct moans of baleen whales" and a passing storm, nearly 7 miles deep in the Pacific.

The Northern Hemisphere saw the biggest rise in land temperatures, finishing 2.59 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the 20th century average.

The photos come from a camera on a satellite, once called "GoreSat" after former Vice President Al Gore, who initially proposed the project in the late 1990s.

Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report that July had the highest average temperatures since records have been kept.