WEEKLY WATER NEWS

DataStreme WES Week Five: 2-6 October 2006

Water in the News

(Thurs.) Satellite image of cirrus plume downwind of Sierras -- An image from the MODIS sensor (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite shows high level cirrus clouds with an unusually long plume of ice crystals at altitudes above approximately 20,000 feet that had developed as air flowed across the Sierra Nevada Mountains in southern California. [NASA Earth Observatory]
(Thurs.) Components in diapers could protect water -- Researchers at the University of Nebraska have been studying ways in which a polymer similar to that used in disposable baby diapers could be used to absorb nitrogen fertilizers from cropland. [ENN]
(Thurs.) Satellite imagery shows effect on island lifted by major earthquake -- Images from ASTER sensor (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite made of North Reef Island in the Andaman Sea before and after the major earthquake of 26 December 2004 show the impact of this earthquake upon the island. The island rose following the earthquake and tsunami, causing the coral surrounding the island to become exposed and die. [NASA Earth Observatory]
(Thurs.) An "ice lolly" used in study of polar bacteria -- Scientists at Queen's University in Ontario have developed a technique to create an ice finger or "ice lolly" that would serve as the site for bacteria and that could be used in the study of those bacteria found in extremely cold environments, such as Antarctic lakes and glaciers. [EurekAlert!]
(Thurs.) Dissolved manganese could aid in controlling toxic zones in aquatic systems -- A research team from the University of Delaware, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the University of Hawaii and Oregon Health and Science University have found that dissolved manganese in the Black Sea and Chesapeake Bay can react with toxic hydrogen sulfide, helping control this naturally produced gas that contributes to the oxygen depleted "dead zones." [University of Delaware]
(Tues.) A new hurricane data portal launched by NASA -- The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center has unveiled a new website called "Hurricane Web Portal" that is designed to help scientists and educators view and study hurricanes with a variety of measurements from satellite-based NASA instruments. [NASA]
(Tues.) More hurricane research is needed -- A panel of scientists with the National Science Board released a draft report at the end of last week in which they urged more funding for hurricane research designed to protect the public and property along the nation's coasts from the devastation produced by hurricanes. [USA Today]
(Tues.) Impacts of marine debris from Katrina assessed -- As part of the recovery efforts across the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of last year's disastrous Hurricane Katrina, Federal and state agencies led by NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration and Office of Coast Survey have been conducting hydrographic surveys and risk assessments of the marine debris left behind by the hurricane in an effort to restore safe navigation and commercial fishing to coastal waters. [NOAA News]
(Tues.) Monetary value placed on worth of boreal forests -- An ecological economist from Edmonton, AB reported to Canada's 10th National Forest Congress that he and colleagues estimate that intact northern forests across Russia, Alaska and Canada are worth roughly $250 billion per year in ecosystem services because of their ability to filtrate water and capture carbon. [EurekAlert!]
(Tues.) Alaska wetlands to be withdrawn from oil drilling -- After the US District Court of Alaska blocked the US Interior Department's plan to allow energy development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska's western Arctic region, the department said that it would be willing to withdraw sensitive wetlands from oil and natural gas drilling. [ENN]
Eye on the tropics --
- In the eastern North Atlantic, Hurricane Isaac moved to the northwest across the central Atlantic Ocean over the weekend, having reached hurricane status near midday on Saturday. This category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, represents the fifth hurricane of the 2006 North Atlantic hurricane season. As of Sunday afternoon, Hurricane Issac was moving northward and could bring tropical storm conditions to Newfoundland. [USA Today] A visible image from NOAA's GOES-12 satellite shows Tropical Storm Issac at the end of last week as it passed well to the north-northeast of Puerto Rico before it became a hurricane. [NOAA OSEI]
- In the western Pacific, Typhoon Xangsane made landfall along the central coast of Viet Nam near Da Nang on Sunday (local time), resulting in two deaths and 80 injuries. Earlier, this typhoon had crossed the northern Philippines and was responsible for three deaths. The typhoon at one time was equivalent to a category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained near surface winds reaching 145 mph. [USA Today] A visible satellite image from the Japanese satellite MTSAT shows Typhoon Xangsane late last week as it moved across the South China Sea between the Philippines and Viet Nam. [NOAA OSEI] Approximately a day earlier, an image from the MODIS sensor (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on a NASA satellite captures an image of Xangsane to the east of the Philippines. [NASA Earth Observatory]
Was hurricane report blocked ? -- The British journal "Nature" claims that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration intentionally blocked release of a report made by a seven-member panel that suggested global warming has contributed to the frequency and strength of hurricanes. NOAA officials dispute this claim, citing the disputed report to be an internal fact sheet that was not ready for release. [USA Today]
Massive hurricane waves are documented -- Hurricane scientists have been using the NASA Scanning Radar Altimeter flown on board a NOAA research aircraft that flew through hurricanes between 1998 and 2005 to study the behavior of hurricane generated ocean waves. A record-ocean wave of 91 feet was generated by Hurricane Ivan in the Gulf of Mexico in 2004 and a 40-foot wave accompanied Hurricane Katrina in 2005. [NASA Earth Observatory] Additional information, including images, is also available. [NASA]
Satellites document flooding along the Mekong River -- Several recent images generated from data obtained by the Canadian RADARSAT-1 satellite show the recent flooding along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam) from this year's summer or wet season monsoon rains. [NASA Earth Observatory]
Looking at the "Mouths of the Ganges" from a satellite -- An image produced from data collected by the ASTER instrument (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite shows the Hugil River in India, one of the distributaries of the Ganges Rivers, with variations in water color indicating different sediment loading or different water depths. [NASA Earth Observatory]
Controversy surrounds activation of Icelandic hydroelectric project -- The Karahnjukar Dam in eastern Iceland, Europe's highest concrete rockfill dam designed to generate hydroelectric power for an aluminum smelter, was activated last week amidst protests from environmentalists who claim that wildlife habitats will be destroyed. [ENN]
Warm water found to surge into Arctic Ocean -- Scientists at the International Arctic Research Center located at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks participated in a ocean cruise as part of the Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational Systems program and documented surges of warm water from the North Atlantic propagate into the Arctic Ocean and move toward the Canadian Basin and then to northern coast of Alaska. Arctic Ocean water temperatures could affect the amount of sea ice, which could play a major role in global climate. [University of Alaska-Fairbanks]
Planet's temperature said to be reaching ancient levels -- James Hansen of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies recently reported that research conducted by colleagues and him indicates that the world's temperature has reached a level that would equal the highest temperature of the current interglacial period, which commenced approximately 12,000 years ago. He indicates that the global temperature has risen by 0.36 Fahrenheit degrees per decade over the last 30 years, forcing a poleward migration of some plant and animal species. These researchers also indicate that the Western Equatorial Pacific and Indian Oceans could be nearly as warm as anytime during the Holocene . [NASA GSFC]
Global and US Hazards/Climate Extremes -- A review and analysis of the global impacts of various weather-related events, including drought, floods, and storms during the current month. [NCDC]
Global Water News Watch -- Other water news sources can be obtained through the SAHRA Project at the University of Arizona [SAHRA Project]
Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com] Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Concept of the Week: Artificial Snow

Snow is the essential ingredient for many winter recreational activities including downhill and cross-country skiing, snow boarding, and snowmobiling. No natural snow cover means no cross-country skiing or snowmobiling. But downhill ski hill operators have another option if weather conditions do not provide adequate snow cover--they can generate their own snow. Artificial snow is used to build a base for skiing, refresh snow surfaces, and make skiing possible even during a snow drought, significantly lengthening the ski season. Some ski areas have the equipment to spread artificial snow over 80% or more of their terrain. Whereas snowmaking offers many recreational and economic advantages, some drawbacks stem from altering the local water budget.

Artificial snow actually consists of tiny particles of ice. Snow makers use specially designed snow guns into which flexible hoses feed compressed air and water separately. A jet of compressed air breaks the stream of water into a fine mist of tiny droplets, which if conditions are favorable, freezes into ice crystals. Expansional cooling of the compressed air as it is emitted through the nozzle of the snow gun and into the atmosphere chills the water droplets. Artificial "snowflakes" settle onto the slopes and mechanized snow groomers then till and spread the accumulated artificial snow evenly over the ski slopes.

Many snowmakers add a special protein (commercially known as Snowmax) to the air/water mix to improve both the quality and quantity of artificial snow. A non-toxic and non-pathogenic strain of a bacterium produces the protein that attracts water and promotes ice crystal formation. Snowmax increases the amount of artificial snow produced at higher temperatures and snowflakes tend to be drier and lighter than other artificial snowflakes.

Ideal weather for snowmaking consists of low air temperature, light winds, and low humidity. Snowmaking is possible even when the air temperature is above 0ºC provided that the relative humidity is sufficiently low that the wet-bulb temperature is below 0ºC. Recall from pages 65-66 in your DataStreme WES Textbook that the wet-bulb temperature is the reading obtained through evaporative cooling when water vaporizes from the wetted bulb of a liquid-in-glass thermometer. Some droplets in the fine water spray (produced by the snow gun) evaporate, tapping latent heat from the air. With sufficient evaporative cooling, the air temperature drops to the wet-bulb reading, that is, to freezing or below, and subsequent water droplets freeze to ice crystals.

The water demand for snowmaking may impact the local water budget. In Vermont, for example, snowmaking uses about 2 billion gallons of water per year—equivalent to about one-seventh of the volume of the public water supply. To cover an area measuring 500 m by 60 m with 20 cm (8 in.) of artificial snow requires about 2500 cubic meters (658,000 gallons) of water. Streams are the usual source of water for snowmaking but ski areas are typically located high on hill or mountain slopes where stream flow is normally low, especially in winter. In some cases, dams or holding ponds are constructed to ensure an adequate water supply for snowmaking. Diversion of water for snowmaking may cut the supply of water for users downstream. Water that is stored in the winter snowpack on the ski trails runs off to streams during the spring snowmelt, adding to the normally high spring stream discharge and perhaps increasing the potential for downstream flooding.

Concept of the Week: Questions

If the air temperature were above 0ºC, artificial snow can be made if the wet-bulb temperature were [(above) (below)] the freezing point of water.
When water droplets evaporate while falling through a layer of relatively dry air, the temperature of the surrounding air [(falls) (rises)].

Historical Events

2 October 1867...A hurricane struck Galveston, TX with a storm tide that produced $1 million damage. (Intellicast)
2 October 1882...A major hurricane struck the Louisiana Delta with 100-mph winds and 12-foot storm tide which inundated the bayous resulting in 1500 deaths. (Intellicast)
2 October 1898...A hurricane struck the Weather Bureau (now National Weather Service) hurricane observation post at Carolina Beach, North Carolina and swept away the office's outhouse. The storm became known as the "Privy Hurricane". (Northern Indiana NWSFO)
3 October 1841...The "October Gale," the worst of record for Nantucket, MA, caught the Cape Cod fishing fleet at sea. Forty ships were driven ashore on Cape Cod, and 57 men perished from the town of Truro alone. Heavy snow fell inland, with 18 inches near Middletown, CT and 3 inches at Concord, MA. (David Ludlum)
3 October 1912...The longest dry spell of record in the U.S. commenced as Bagdad, CA went 767 days without rain, ending on 9 November 1914. (David Ludlum)
4 October 1869...A great storm struck New England. The storm reportedly was predicted twelve months in advance by a British officer named Saxby. Heavy rains and flooding plagued all of New England, with strong winds and high tides along the coast of New Hampshire and Maine. Canton, CT was deluged with 12.35 inches of rain. (David Ludlum)
4 October 1986...Excessive flooding was reported along the Mississippi River and all over the Midwest, from Ohio to the Milk River in Montana. In some places, it was the worst flooding of record. Rainfall totals for the week included 20.07 inches at Hale, KS, nearly 18 inches at Coffeyville and Walnut, KS. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987) (Intellicast)
5 October 1786...The famous "Pumpkin Flood" occurred on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. Harrisburg, PA reported a river stage of twenty-two feet. The heavy rains culminated a wet season. (David Ludlum)
5 October 1972...Heavy rains, mostly the remnants of Tropical Storm Joanne, fell across much of Arizona. It was believed to be the first time in Arizona weather history that a tropical storm entered the state with its circulation still intact. The center was over Flagstaff early on the 7th. (3rd-7th) (The Weather Channel)
5-7 October 1999...A storm southeast of New Zealand caused surf to reach heights of 12 feet along the south shores of all the Hawaiian Islands, flooding some roads and parking lots. The lobby of the Kihei Beach Resort on Maui and three ground floor units were flooded. (Accord Weather Calendar)
6 October 1967...Canada's 24-hour rainfall record was established at Ucluelet Brynnor Mines on Vancouver Island in British Columbia with 19.24 in. (Accord Weather Calendar)
7 October 1737...A furious cyclone in the Bay of Bengal caused a major disaster at the mouth of the Hoogby River near Calcutta, India. As many as 300,000 people were killed, mainly as the result of the storm's forty foot high surge. (Accord Weather Calendar)
8 October 1871...Prolonged drought and desiccating winds from the southwest led to the great Chicago fire, the Peshtigo horror, and the Michigan fire holocaust. Fire destroyed more than seventeen thousand buildings killing more than 200 persons in the city of Chicago, while on the same night a fire consumed the town of Peshtigo, WI killing more than 1100 persons. In Wisconsin, a million acres of land were burned, and in Michigan, 2.5 million acres were burned killing 200 persons. In northeastern Wisconsin, "tornadoes of fire" generated by intense heat caused houses to explode in fire, and burned to death scores of persons seeking refuge in open fields. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)