WEEKLY WATER NEWS

4-8 August 2008

Water in the Earth System will return for Fall 2008 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 25 August 2008. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

Water in the News:

• Eye on the tropics ---
  • In the North Atlantic basin, Tropical Storm Edouard, the fifth named tropical cyclone (low pressure system with tropical storm or hurricane intensity) of the 2008 North Atlantic hurricane season, formed late Sunday afternoon over the Gulf of Mexico south of Alabama's Mobile Bay. As of Sunday evening, this tropical storm was expected to travel westward and make landfall along the Texas coast
  • In the Western North Pacific, Typhoon Fung-Wong, which had reached Category 2 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, made landfall in Taiwan and then mainland China early last week, accompanied by major flooding. An image from the MODIS sensor on NASA's Aqua satellite shows the clouds surrounding Typhoon Fung-Wong in the Taiwan Strait after passing over Taiwan. [NASA Earth Observatory] Additional information and images of Fung-Wong can be seen on the NASA Hurricane Page.
• Texas floods are a reminder of Dolly -- Images made by the MODIS sensor on NASA's Aqua satellite on 21 and 26 July 2008 over the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas show the magnitude of the flooding produced by the torrential rain that accompanied Hurricane Dolly as it made landfall near Brownsville during the third week of July. [NASA Earth Observatory] Additional information and images of Hurricane Dolly can be found on the NASA Hurricane Page.
• Martian water confirmed by spacecraft -- Scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, together with colleagues at several laboratories in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany and Finland recently confirmed that laboratory tests conducted onboard NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander have identified the presence of water in a Martian soil sample collected by the Lander on the Arctic Plain of Mars. NASA also announced that because of the success in making the first direct collection of water on Mars, the prime mission will be extended through the end of September. [NASA JPL]
• Eastern European flooding -- Comparison of MODIS images of the western Ukraine obtained from NASA's Terra satellite in mid July and at the end of that month show the magnitude of the flooding of the rivers in the region due to the heavy rain that fell in late July across the Carpathian Mountains. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• A near record "dead zone" found in the Gulf of Mexico -- Researchers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium who have conducted a research cruise have found that the size of the oxygen-depleted waters or the "dead zone" of the Gulf of Mexico is the second largest since they began taking measurements in 1985. Several of the scientists believe the reason that the actual size of this year's zone being less than predicted is due to Hurricane Dolly. [NOAA News]
• High carbon dioxide levels could cause ocean reefs to become "unglued" -- Scientists at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and their colleagues at other institutions warn that increased levels of carbon dioxide could dissolve the cements that bind the individual coral skeletons with larger coral reefs, resulting in the disintegration of these reefs. [NOAA News]
• Marine observing efforts funded -- As part of its Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program, NOAA has recently provided funding to several regional organizations to support their marine observing efforts. The Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, coordinated from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego will receive $853,785 to support ocean observing efforts in Southern California. [NOAA News] The Great Lakes Observing System, under the supervision of the Great Lakes Commission, will receive a $750,000 award to support marine observing efforts in the Great Lakes region. [NOAA News]
• Marine sanctuaries seek advisory council applicants -- NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which is located in the coastal waters of Massachusetts, is currently seeking two applicants for its advisory council, a group that assures public participation in the sanctuary's management. [NOAA News] NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary located off the upper Texas Gulf Coast is seeking up to eight applications for its advisory council. [NOAA News]
• "More crop to the drop" -- Researchers at Israel's Tel Aviv University have been investigating ways of genetically altering the root structure of plants so as to improve their water uptake, thereby creating a more efficient means of irrigation, especially in arid areas. [American Friends of Tel Aviv University]
• Mussels serve as indicator of port pollution-- Researchers at the University of the Basque Country report that they use mussels in ocean ports along the northern Spanish coast as a means of monitoring the contamination of the waters of the ports. [Basque Research]
• Oceanic acidification could impact nascent marine life -- Researchers from Sweden and Australia have Studied the changes in the fertilization rate of sea urchins when the pH of the ocean water has been lowered and they have found decreases in the rate of development of healthy larvae when the water is acidified by the same amount projected to occur in the oceans by the end of this century. [EurekAlert!] These researchers warn of the implications that this ocean acidification would have on marine life. [EurekAlert!]
• An All-Hazards Monitor -- This Web portal provides the user information from NOAA on current environmental events that may pose as hazards such as tropical weather, drought, floods, marine weather, tsunamis, rip currents, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and coral bleaching. [NOAAWatch]
• 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.

Historical Events:

• 4(?) August 1609...A tempest struck the western Atlantic Ocean scattering small British convoy headed to Virginia. Two vessels sank; another, the Sea Venture was presumed lost. However, a ship made landfall on Bermuda, shipwrecking the crew. After a ten-month stay to build two small rescue boats, they sailed to Jamestown (Virginia) Colony. Incident accounts may have provided William Shakespeare with background material for The Tempest. (The Weather Doctor)
• 4 August 1666...A violent hurricane raked the island of Guadeloupe, destroying all boats along its coast, including a 17-ship fleet with 2000 troops. The island's batteries, with 6-foot thick walls, were destroyed and the 16-pounders (large cannons) were washed away. (The Weather Doctor) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 4 August 1995...Thunderstorms generated 5 to 6-foot waves on Flathead Lake, a 26-mile long lake in northwest Montana. Some of the waves generated by a distant thunderstorm crashed ashore at Lakeside, damaging boats, sea walls and docks. At the time, calm conditions were reported at Lakeside. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 5 August 1843...A spectacular cloudburst at Chester Creek, near Philadelphia, PA turned the small creeks and streams entering the Delaware River into raging torrents. As much as sixteen inches of rain fell in just three hours at Concord, which still stands as the greatest amount of precipitation in a three hour span in the U.S. Flooding destroyed thirty-two county bridges, and caused nineteen deaths. Several small tornadoes are believed to have accompanied the torrential rains, one of which upset and sank more than thirty barges on the Schuylkill River. Fifteen inches of rain also fell at Newark, NJ. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
• 5 August 1983...One of many Western Plains thunderstorms dumped 2.89 inches of rain in 38 minutes at Denver, CO. (Intellicast)
• 5 August 1988...Floods ravaged parts of Sudan during August, the result of 8.27 inches of rain that fell in Khartoum in 13 hours on the 4^th and 5^th. The previous 24-hour record at Khartoum was 3.46 inches. More than one million people were made homeless. At least 96 died in Sudan's worst flooding sine 1946. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 5-7 August 1997...Although far to the southwest, Hurricane Guillermo generated surf to 12-foot heights along the beaches of southern California. In Newport Beach, lifeguards made almost 300 rescues on the 5^th and 6^th. Rip currents were responsible for one death and three injuries. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 6 August 1890...Thunderstorms left four inches of hail covering the ground in Adair County and Union County in Iowa. The hail drifted into six-foot mounds, and in some places remained on the ground for twenty-six days until the end of the month. (The Weather Channel)
• 6 August 1905...Princeton, IN received 10.50 inches of rain, which established a 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Hoosier State. (NCDC)
• 5-6 August 1959...A bucket survey showed that thunderstorms dropped 16.70 inches of rain on parts of Decatur County, IA. The total was accepted as Iowa's 24-hour rainfall record. (The Weather Channel)
  Hurricane Dot crossed Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands producing sustained winds of 103 mph and gusts to 125 mph. Over 6 inches of rain fell there and over 9 inches on the island of Hawaii. The sugar cane crop on Kauai sustained $2.7 million in damages. (Intellicast)
• 6 August 1987...Afternoon thunderstorms deluged Milwaukee, WI, breaking all previous rainfall records for the city. Among the records: 1.10 inches in 5 minutes, 3.06 inches in 1 hour, 5.24 inches in 2 hours, 6.24 in 6 hours and 6.84 inches in 24 hours. Floodwaters were four feet deep at the Milwaukee County Stadium, and floodwaters filled the basement of the main terminal at the airport. Flooding caused 5.9 million dollars damage, and claimed the life of one person. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 7 August 1904...A flash flood near Pueblo, CO washed a train from the tracks killing 89 passengers. A bridge, weakened by the floodwaters sweeping through the valley below, gave way under the weight of the train dashing all but the sleeping cars into the torrent drowning the occupants. Rail service was frequently interrupted in the Rocky Mountain Region and southwestern U.S. that summer due to numerous heavy downpours, which washed out the railroad beds, delaying trains as much as five days. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
• 7 August 1922...A violent hailstorm struck a passenger train near Pinneo, CO. Sixty-mile per hour winds blew jagged chunks of ice into the train, breaking windows and injuring the passengers. The train was so severely damaged that another train had to pick up the passengers to take them on their way. (Flora, Hailstorms of the United States, 1956)
• 7 August 1984...El Paso, TX normally receives 1.21 inches of rain in August. They got that amount in forty-five minutes, with four more inches to boot, during a storm that left Downtown El Paso under five feet of water. (The Weather Channel)
• 7 August 1990...A thunderstorm moving through Nome, AK, the ninth thunderstorm of the year, more than in the previous 20 years combined. (Intellicast)
• 7-8 August 1995...Lockington Dam, OH recorded 10.75 inches of rain, establishing a 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Buckeye State. (NCDC)
• 8 August 1882...An August snowstorm was reported by a ship on Lake Michigan. A thick cloud reportedly burst on the decks covering them with snow and slush six inches deep. Snow showers were observed at shore points that day. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
• 8 August 1982...Scattered severe thunderstorms dropped up to three inches of rain over western Arizona. Mud and rock debris from the rain covered approximately 250 miles of highway. Water to depths of three feet were reported in Parker and the town was isolated for three days. A number of streets in Lake Havasu City were seriously damaged. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 8 August 1987...Thunderstorm rains in eastern Nebraska sent the Wahoo River and Ithica River above flood stage. Thunderstorm rains in western Iowa sent the Nishnabotna River over flood stage. Up to seven inches of rain deluged the Council Bluffs area Friday evening and Saturday morning. Thunderstorms produced 4.4 inches of rain in three hours Friday evening, along with golf ball-size hail. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 8 August 1992...Parts of south central and southeastern Indiana were hit by three to thirteen inches of rain in six hours. Streams rose between 30 to 35 feet in northern Clark and southwest Lincoln Counties. Sixty-five miles of Conrail railroad tracks were washed out. One death was reported as a man was swept away as he attempted to wade across a flooded road east of Scottsburg. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 9 August 1988...Tropical Storm Beryl deluged Biloxi with 6.32 inches of rain in 24 hours, and in three days drenched Pascagoula, MS with 15.85 inches of rain. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 9 August 1989...Evening thunderstorms in Arizona deluged Yuma with record torrential rains for the second time in two weeks. The rainfall total of 5.25 inches at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot established a 24-hour record, and was nearly double the normal annual rainfall. As many as 1000 homes were flooded with water to 5 feet deep. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 9 August 1997...Heavy thunderstorms over central Mojave County in Arizona produced flash flooding near Kingman shortly after midnight. To the east of Kingman, a passenger train was derailed upon crossing a flood-weakened creek and 116 of 302 passengers were injured. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 10-11 August 1831...A violent hurricane devastated Barbados. Death toll was estimated to be from 1500 to 2500 people. (The Weather Doctor)
• 10 August 1856...The Isle Derniere (Last Island) disaster occurred off the coast of Louisiana. A storm tide drowned 140 vacationers as a five-foot wave swept over Low Island during a hurricane. (The Weather Channel) The hurricane completely devastated the fashionable hotel and pleasure resort on Last Island, 150 miles east of Cameron. Storm surge swept an estimated 400 people to their death. Today the island is just a haven for pelicans and other sea birds. (Intellicast)
• 10 August 1980...Hurricane Allen came ashore north of Brownsville, TX dropping fifteen inches of rain near San Antonio, and up to 20 inches in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, ending a summer long drought. Winds at Port Mansfield gusted to 140 mph with a storm surge of 12 feet. Tidal flooding occurred along the South Texas coast. Hurricane Allen packed winds to 150 mph, and also spawned twenty-nine tornadoes. Total damage from the storm was estimated at 750 million dollars. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
• 10 August 1981...Up to six inches of rain fell in several hours over the desert in the Moapa Valley of northeast Clark County in Nevada. A massive flash flood resulted, with 762 cows killed on a dairy farm in Hidden Valley. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)

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Prepared by AMS WES Central Staff and Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D., email hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu
ã Copyright, 2008, The American Meteorological Society.