Weekly Ocean News

PREVIEW WEEK: 22-26 August 2016

Items of Interest:

Worldwide GLOBE at Night 2016 Campaign resumes -- The ninth in a series of GLOBE at Night citizen-science campaigns for 2016 will commence on Thursday (25 August) and continue through Friday, 2 September. GLOBE at Night is a worldwide, hands-on science and education program designed to encourage citizen-scientists worldwide to record the brightness of their night sky by matching the appearance of a constellation (Cygnus in the Northern Hemisphere and Sagittarius in the Southern Hemisphere) with the seven magnitude/star charts of progressively fainter stars. Activity guides are also available. The GLOBE at night program is intended to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution. The next series in the 2016 campaign is scheduled for 22 September - 1 October 2016. [GLOBE at Night]
Free admission into the National Parks -- This upcoming weekend (Thursday, 25 August 2016 through Sunday, 28 August) has been designated by the National Park Service as fee-free days in honor of its 100th Birthday. This fee waiver will cover entrance and commercial tour fees in many of the national parks and monuments administered by the Park Service. [National Park Service Fee Free Days]
Ocean charts, units, location and time -- Please read this week's Supplemental Information…In Greater Depth for a description of a several types of oceanographic charts along with the definitions of some units commonly used in ocean science to locate positions on the Earth's surface and to identify time.

Ocean in the News:

Eye on the Tropics -- During the last week several named tropical cyclones (low pressure systems that form over tropical ocean waters, with near surface maximum sustained winds that intensify to tropical storm or hurricane force status) had developed in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins of the Northern Hemisphere:

In the North Atlantic basin, a tropical depression formed early last week over the eastern tropical waters of the basin several hundred miles of the western coast of Africa. On late Wednesday (local time) this system intensified into Tropical Storm Fiona, the sixth named tropical cyclone of 2016, approximately 920 miles west of the Cabo Verde (or Cape Verde) Islands. Fiona traveled generally toward the west-northwest through the rest of the week and into this past weekend with little significant intensification. As of this past Sunday afternoon, Tropical Storm Fiona was located approximately 680 miles to the northeast of the Leeward Islands. Current forecasts indicate that Fiona could weaken to a tropical depression by late Sunday as it would continue its travels toward the west-northwest. Consult the NASA Hurricane Page for more information and satellite imagery on Tropical Storm Fiona.
In the eastern North Pacific basin, a tropical depression formed near Socorro Island off the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, last Thursday afternoon. Early Friday morning this tropical depression had intensified to become Tropical Storm Kay, the eleventh named eastern Pacific tropical cyclone of 2016. Over this past weekend, Kay traveled generally toward the northwest next two days with some modest intensification. As of Sunday morning Tropical Storm Kay was located approximately 325 miles to the west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. Current forecasts indicate that Kay should continue traveling to the northwest before curving toward the west-northwest on Monday, accompanied by a weakening into a remnant low by Tuesday. The NASA Hurricane Page has satellite images and additional information on Tropical Storm Kay.
In the western North Pacific basin, Tropical Storm Chanthu continued traveling to the north toward the eastern coast of Japan's main island of Honshu, accompanied by heavy rain and gusty winds. As of Wednesday (local time) Chanthu was weakening and becoming disorganized as it passed over northern sections of the island of Hokkaido. See the NASA Hurricane Page for images and additional information on Tropical Storm Chanthu.
At the midpoint of last week the tenth tropical depression of 2016 in the western Pacific formed near Guam and then quickly became Tropical Storm Mindulle. Initially Mindulle headed toward the northeast before turning toward the north as it intensified. As of Monday (local time) Mindulle was approaching the southeastern coast of the Japanese island of Honshu. Current forecasts indicate that Tropical Storm Mindulle should make landfall in southeastern Honshu early this week and continue traveling to the north and north-northeast passing over the Tokyo and Sendai metropolitan areas. Flooding rain and gusty winds were anticipated. Consult the NASA Hurricane Page for additional information on Tropical Storm Mindulle and accompanying images.
A tropical depression formed late last week over the waters of the South China Sea near China's Hainan Island. Traveling westward, this tropical depression passed to the north of Haikou, China and then later became Tropical Storm Dianmu as it generally traveled to the west across the Gulf of Tonkin before making an eventual landfall on the northeastern coast of Vietnam near Hanoi by the end of last week. Additional information and satellite images for Tropical Storm Dianmu are available from the NASA Hurricane Page.
Another tropical depression formed late in the week and then became Tropical Storm Lionrock approximately 600 miles to the east-southeast of Yokosuka, Japan. Over this past weekend Lionrock traveled generally toward the west-southwest. As of Monday (local time) Tropical Storm Lionrock was headed toward Okinawa during this upcoming week. Intensification to a typhoon status (equivalent of a hurricane) was possible. Satellite images and additional information are available on the NASA Hurricane Page for Tropical Storm Lionrock
Tropical Storm Kompasu formed at the start of this past weekend to the southeast of Japan's island of Honshu. During the weekend Kompasu traveled to the northwest before making landfall Sunday night (local time) in southern Hokkaido as a tropical depression. Locally heavy rainfall and gusty winds spread across northern Honshu and eastern Hokkaido because of Kompasu.

Hurricane season in eastern Pacific becoming more active -- A NOAA contract scientist wrote an article discussing how the eastern North Pacific basin experienced a slow start to its hurricane season, but since the start of July, ten named tropical cyclones (including tropical storms and hurricanes) have developed in the basin. The beginning of the 2016 eastern Pacific season was below-average, with Tropical Storm Agatha forming on 2 July, one of the latest starts since 1971 (the beginning of the satellite surveillance era). A record-tying number of ten named cyclones developed during the month of July. However, the recent activity has raised the 2016 hurricane season into an above-average one. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Funding is approved to protect Chesapeake Bay oyster aquaculture from Harmful Algal Blooms -- During the last week, NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) approved funding for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and a Virginia commercial oyster grower to examine the impacts of harmful algal blooms on oyster aquaculture in Virginia's York River and the lower Chesapeake Bay during active late summer blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate algae Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Alexandrium monilatum.[NOAA NCCOS News]
$5.4 million in grants awarded for endangered and threatened marine species recovery -- During the last week NOAA Fisheries announced that it has awarded $5.4 million in grants to states and tribal nations in regions along all of the nation's coasts to help in the recovery of endangered and threatened marine species. These grants for 2016 include 17 new grants in 12 states and one tribe. [NOAA Fisheries] In addition, NOAA Fisheries has also issued a call for proposals for the calendar year of 2017 under the Species Recovery Grants Program, authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. Applications are due by mid October 2016. [NOAA News]
Global temperature and ice cover for July 2016 reviewed -- Scientists at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) recently reported on their analysis of preliminary weather data collected during the month of July 2016:

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature for July 2016 was the highest for any July since sufficiently detailed global climate records began in 1880. This record global temperature was nearly 62 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1.57 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century (1901-2000) average. In addition to being the warmest July on record, this recently concluded month was the warmest of any of the 1639 months that constitute the record with an average temperature edging out the previous record monthly high temperature set in July 2015 by 0.11 Fahrenheit degrees. When considered separately, the average air temperature temperature over the world oceans for July 2016 was the highest for any July since 1880, while the temperature over land surfaces was also the highest July reading on record.

The researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center noted the areal extent of the Arctic sea ice for July 2016 was the third smallest for any July since satellite surveillance began in 1979. The extent of the Antarctic sea ice was the nineteenth smallest July ice extent in the 38-year record. [NOAA/NCEI State of the Climate]
A global map of Selected Significant Climate Anomalies and Events for July 2016 is available from NCEI.

Space agency monitors the "new normal" for polar sea ice -- A sea ice scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center recently assessed the status of the areal extent of sea ice cover over the Arctic Ocean as the time when the typical occurrence of the summertime sea ice minimum approaches in late September. He contends that after relatively rapid spring ice loss through May, the rate of melt slowed in June, which could result in the extent of this year's Arctic sea ice not setting a new minimum record. However, he does note that low levels of sea ice are becoming the "new normal" as compared with even a decade ago. [NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Feature]
Changes in Pacific sea level used as a predictor of global temperature change -- Geoscientists at the University of Arizona and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory recently reported that the using the patterns of rise in the sea level of the Pacific Ocean can be used to estimate future global average surface temperatures. The researchers used observed sea level changes obtained from data collected since 1993 by the collection of NASA, NOAA and European satellites. They believe that sea surface height provide a more accurate reflection of the heat stored in the entire ocean water column than sea surface temperatures. [University of Arizona News]
Venus may have been habitable in ancient past -- Scientists at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) recently reported that their computer modeling simulations of Venus' ancient climate indicates that the planet may have a had a shallow liquid-water ocean along with habitable surface temperatures during as much as the first two billion years of its existence. These simulations were run using a model similar to the one used to predict future climates on Earth. [NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies News]
An All-Hazards Monitor -- This Web portal provides the user information from NOAA's National Weather Service, FAA and FEMA on current environmental events that may pose as hazards such as tropical weather, fire weather, marine weather, severe weather, drought and floods. [NOAA/NWS Daily Briefing]
Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com]

Concept of the Week: Touring the AMS Ocean Studies RealTime Ocean Portal

Welcome to DataStreme Ocean! You are embarking on a study of the world ocean and the role of the ocean in the Earth system. This unique teacher enhancement course focuses on the flow and transformations of energy and water into and out of the ocean, the internal properties and circulation of the ocean, interactions between the ocean and the other components of the Earth system, and the human/societal impacts on and responses to those interactions. Throughout this learning experience, you will be using the RealTime Ocean Portal to access and interpret a variety of environmental information, including recent observational data. The objective of this initial Concept of the Week is to explore features of the RealTime Ocean Portal website.

On Monday of each week of the course, we will post the current Weekly Ocean News that includes Ocean in the News (a summary listing of recent events related to the ocean), Concept of the Week (an in-depth analysis of some topic related to the ocean in the Earth system), and Historical Events (a list of past events such as tsunamis or specific advances in the understanding of oceanography). When appropriate, a feature called Supplemental Information-In Greater Depth will be provided on some topic related to the principal theme of the week.

You will use the RealTime Ocean Portal to access and download the weekly "Current Ocean Studies" that complement Investigations found in your Ocean Studies Investigations Manual. These materials should be available Monday morning. Click the appropriate links to download and print these electronic Current Ocean Studies and answer forms as well as your Chapter Progress and Investigations Response forms.

The body of the RealTime Ocean Portal provides links to the Earth System, information on Physical & Chemical, Geological, and Biological aspects of the ocean, Atmosphere/Ocean Interaction, the Great Lakes, and extras-a glossary of terms, maps and educational links. Following each section is a link to other sites that examine the various subsystems of the Earth system. Let's take a quick tour to become more familiar with the RealTime Ocean Portal.

Under Physical & Chemical, click on Sea Surface Temperatures. This image uses a color scale to depict the global pattern of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) (in degrees Celsius) averaged over a recent 7-day period and based on measurements by infrared sensors onboard Earth-orbiting satellites. (Depending on your browser, you may have to place your mouse cursor on the slide bar to the right and scroll down to view the entire image.) Compare SSTs in the Northern Hemisphere with those in the Southern Hemisphere. Return to the RealTime Ocean Portal.

Under Geological, click on Current Earthquake Activity. The USGS Current World Seismicity page provides a global map of the locations of seismic (earthquake) events color-coded for the past seven days. The size of the squares represents the magnitude of recent earthquakes. Note how earthquakes are concentrated along the margin of the Pacific Ocean. Details of recent earthquakes can be found by clicking on their map squares. Return to the RealTime Ocean Portal.

The ocean is home to a wide variety of habitats and organisms. Under Biological, click on Ocean "Color" (Productivity). This is a satellite-derived (SeaWiFS) color-coded map of biological productivity in the surface waters of the world ocean is averaged from October 1978 to date. Orange and red indicates the highest productivity, while dark blue and violet indicate the lowest productivity. Note the vast areas of relatively low productivity over the central regions of the subtropical ocean basins. Individual months within this period may be chosen for viewing. Now return to the RealTime Ocean Portal.

Under Atmosphere/Ocean Interaction, click on TRMM/GPM Tropical Rainfall. The TRMM/GPM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) page includes color-coded maps of the Monthly Mean Rainrate (in mm per day) across the tropics for the last 30 days ending on the present date. Changes in rainfall are linked to large-scale shifts in the atmosphere/ocean circulation in the tropics. Now return to the RealTime Ocean Portal.

Take a few minutes when you have time to browse the other data and information sources available via the RealTime Ocean Portal. Return frequently to learn more about the many resources on the ocean in the Earth system. Bon voyage!

Concept of the Week: Questions

The latest global sea surface temperature map indicates that SSTs are generally higher over the [(western)(eastern)] tropical Pacific Ocean.
The USGS map of Current Earthquake Activity indicates that earthquakes appear to be more common along the [(east)(west)] coast of North America.

Historical Events

22 August 1770...James Cook's expedition landed on the east coast of Australia. (Wikipedia)
22 August 1787...Inventor John Fitch demonstrated his steamboat on the Delaware River to delegates of the Continental Congress. Its top speed was 3 mph. These tests were completed years before Fulton built his steamboat. (Today in Science History)
22 August 1780...HMS Resolution, Captain James Cook's ship, returned to England; Cook had been killed on Hawaii during the voyage. (Wikipedia)
22 August 1962...The 506-ft long NS Savannah, the world's first civilian nuclear-powered ship, completed its maiden voyage from Yorktown, VA to Savannah, GA; the ship was named for the SS Savannah, the first steam-powered ship to cross the Atlantic in 1819. (Wikipedia) (Today in Science History)
22 August 1893: Four hurricanes are observed in the Atlantic Ocean at the same time, a record at that time. Over a century would pass before four hurricanes would again rage together over the Atlantic in 1998. (National Weather Service files)
22 August 1994...The USCG icebreaker Polar Sea and the CCCS Louis S. Ste Laurent became the first "North American surface ships" to reach the North Pole. (USCG Historian's Office)
23 August 1540...The French explorer Jacques Cartier landed near Quebec in his voyage to Canada. (Wikipedia)
23 August 1893...New York City was hit by a Category 2 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) that brought a 30-foot storm surge to the southern shore of Long Island. (National Weather Service files)
23 August 1899...The first wireless message from a ship to the shore "Sherman is sighted", was received in the US. The US Lightship No. 70, San Francisco , announced the arrival of the U.S. Army troopship Sherman to the crowd assembled at the Cliff House. Reporters from the San Francisco Call relayed this information to a city awaiting the return of its hometown regiment from the battlefields of the Spanish-American War. The lightship, miles out at sea in deep fog, relayed this message via wireless telegraphy (later known as radio) through the fog to the Cliff House. This was the first 19th-century working use of wireless telegraphy outside of England. The method was still primitive, using sparks to emit intermittent radio waves and code messages. (Wikipedia) (Today in Science History)
23 August 1933...The Chesapeake-Potomac hurricane made landfall over Nag's Head, NC and moved over Norfolk, VA, Chesapeake Bay and Washington, DC. Winds gusted to 88 mph at Norfolk, VA. A tide seven feet above normal flooded businesses in Norfolk, and damage in Maryland was estimated at $17 million. Sixty percent of Atlantic City, NJ was flooded as was 10 square miles of southwest Philadelphia, PA. Forty seven people were killed and damage was estimated at $47 million (in depression-era dollars) (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
23-24 August 1992...Hurricane Andrew on its way to Florida with winds of 150 mph, struck northern Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. The storm surge reached 23 feet. Total damage on the islands topped $250 million. At about 5 AM on the 24th, Andrew made landfall near Homestead, FL with a central pressure of 922 mb (27.22 in. of mercury). Fowey Rocks coastal marine buoy recorded maximum sustained winds of 141 mph and a peak gust of 169 mph and the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables had sustained winds of 115 mph with a peak gust of 164 mph. A record storm surge of 16.7 feet occurred in Biscayne Bay. Homestead AFB was practically wiped out. More than 120,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving 250,000 homeless. Forty-one people died and property damage exceeded $25 billion, making Andrew by far the most costly hurricane in U.S. history until Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Andrew was the third most intense hurricane to strike the mainland behind Camille (1969) and the Labor Day Hurricane (1935) (Intellicast)
23-24 August 1998...Almost 18 inches of rain deluged Del Rio, TX between 8 AM on the 23rd and 6 AM on the 24th because of stalled remnants of Tropical Storm Charley. Violent flash flooding from San Felipe Creek left residential lots swept bare of homes, with asphalt streets gone. Nine people were killed and 150 injured. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
23 August 2005...Hurricane Katrina formed from Tropical Depression Twelve over the southeastern Bahamas. Katrina would become the costliest ($81.2 billion) and one of the most deadly hurricanes (1,836 lives) in U.S. history. (National Weather Service files)
24-29 August 1785...Hurricane ravaged the Eastern Caribbean Sea from St. Croix, Virgin Islands to Cuba during the last week of August. Over 142 people were reported dead from the storm's impact. (The Weather Doctor)
24 August 1912...The US Congress gave effect to the convention between United States, Great Britain, Japan and Russia prohibiting taking of fur seals and sea otters in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea by authorizing the President "to cause a guard or patrol to be maintained in the waters frequented by the seal herd or herds of seal otter." (USCG Historian's Office)
24 August 1988...A tropical depression drenched the Cabo Rojo area of southwestern Puerto Rico with up to ten inches of rain. San Juan received 5.35 inches of rain. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)
24 August 1992...Hurricane Andrew slammed into south Florida, devastating the community of Homestead with 181-mph winds. With a central pressure at landfall of 922 millibars (27.22 inches of mercury), which at the time was the third lowest ever recorded in a hurricane at landfall in the United States. Camille (1969) and the Labor Day Hurricane (1935) were more intense. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina became the third most intense land falling hurricane with a 920-millibar pressure reading (or 27.17 in Hg) when it reached the Louisiana Gulf Coast. (The Weather Doctor)
25 August 1885...A severe hurricane struck South Carolina causing $1.3 million damage at Charleston. (David Ludlum)
25 August 1927...The August Gale, a hurricane, raged across the East Coast, crossing the Cabot Strait between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland during the early morning hours. Hundreds of small boats in Newfoundland ports are among the storm's victims. (The Weather Doctor)
25 August-7 September 1979...Hurricane David crossed the island of Dominica on the 29th, with winds to 145 mph. Roseau, the capital, was devastated. Fifty-six people were killed on Dominica and 60,000 of the island's 80,000 residents were made homeless. About three-quarters of the coconut and banana crop were destroyed. The central pressure in David fell to 924 mb (27.28 in.) on the 30th as it moved south of Puerto Rico. At that time, highest sustained winds reached 173 mph. On the 31st, winds of 150 mph from Hurricane David brought over $1 billion in damage to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, killing over 1200. (The Weather Doctor) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
26 August 1883... Krakatau (or Krakatoa) Volcano exploded in the East Indies. The explosion was heard more than 2500 miles away, and every barograph around the world recorded the passage of the air wave, up to seven times. Giant waves, 125 feet high and traveling 300 mph, devastated everything in their path, hurling ashore coral blocks weighing up to 900 tons, and killing more than 36,000 persons. Volcanic ash was carried around the globe in thirteen days producing blue and green suns in the tropics, and then vivid red sunsets in higher latitudes. The temperature of the Earth was lowered one degree for the next two years, finally recovering to normal by 1888. (David Ludlum)
26 August 1949...A hurricane made landfall at Delray Beach, FL. Winds reached 153 mph at the Jupiter Lighthouse before the anemometer failed. The hurricane caused $45 million damage to crops, and caught the Georgia and South Carolina coast resulting in another $2 million in damage. (David Ludlum)
26 August 1992...Hurricane Andrew made its second landfall along the Louisiana coast near Burns Point, as a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Morgan City recorded wind gusts of 108 mph. Hammond was deluged with nearly a foot of rain. Total additional damage was estimated at $1.8 billion. Andrew, which had made its initial US landfall in South Florida on the 24th, was the most costly natural disaster in US history, with total damage reaching up to $30 billion. Additionally, record hurricane evacuation of 2.4 million people took place in Florida and Louisiana. (Intellicast) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
27 August 1881...As many as 335 people were lost in the Georgia Hurricane, especially severe at Savannah and Charleston, SC. (Intellicast)
27 August 1883...The after effects caused by the Krakatau explosion in Indonesia, including large tsunami waves of up to 300 feet, killed 36,000 people. The tsunami waves were powerful enough to cross the Indian Ocean and travel beyond Cape Horn. The most powerful blast was the most violent known in human history, was loud enough to be heard in Australia, and the shock wave was registered by barometers England. The huge amount of volcanic dust thrust high into the stratosphere eventually traveled around the world. The dust blocked sunlight causing temperature drops and chaotic weather patterns for several years afterward. (Wikipedia) (Today in Science History)
27 August 1893...The first of three great hurricanes that year struck South Carolina drowning more than 1000 persons in a storm surge at Charleston. This Category 3 (possibly Category 4) hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale slammed into Savannah, GA with a 16-foot storm surge. Landfall was just south of Savannah, GA where sustained winds hit 120 mph. (David Ludlum) (National Weather Service files)
27 August 1964...Hurricane Cleo battered Miami and the South Florida area, marking the first direct hit for Miami in fourteen years. Sustained winds of 100 mph gusted to 135 mph, and the hurricane caused $125 million in damage. (David Ludlum)
27 August 1995...Remains of Tropical Storm Jerry unloaded 12.32 inches of rain in 24 hours in Greer, SC, a record for 24 hours, for a rain event and for August. At Antreville, 17.00 inches fell in 24 hours, setting a 24-hour rainfall record for the Palmetto State. (Intellicast)
28 August 1965...CDR Scott Carpenter, USN, and nine aquanauts entered SeaLab II, 205 ft. below Southern California's waters to conduct underwater living and working tests. (Naval Historical Center)
28 August 1988...Tropical Storm Chris spawned a tornado near Manning, SC, which killed one person, and spawned three tornadoes in North Carolina. Chris produced one to two foot tides, and three to six inch rains, over coastal South Carolina. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
28-30 August 1839...A hurricane moved from Cape Hatteras, NC to offshore New England. An unusual feature of the hurricane was the snow it helped produce, which whitened the Catskill Mountains of New York State. Considerable snow was also reported at Salem, NY. (The Weather Channel)
28 August 1965...CDR Scott Carpenter, USN, and nine aquanauts entered SeaLab II, 205 ft. below Southern California's waters to conduct underwater living and working tests. (Naval Historical Center)
28 August 1988...Tropical Storm Chris spawned a tornado near Manning, SC, which killed one person, and spawned three tornadoes in North Carolina. Chris produced one to two foot tides, and three to six inch rains, over coastal South Carolina. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
28 August 2005...Hurricane Katrina attained category 5 status (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) on the morning of the 28th and reached its peak strength at 1 PM CDT that day, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and a minimum central pressure of 902 millibars (or 26.6 inches of mercury). (National Weather Service files)
28 August 2011...After striking eastern North Carolina on the 27th as a category 1 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale), Hurricane Irene weakened to a tropical storm as it moved into New York State and New England. Widespread flooding occurred from New Jersey through New York to Vermont, with 14 river flooding records broken in the Empire State alone. Ten thousand flights were canceled and several interstates were closed. Forty people lost their lives. (National Weather Service files)