Weekly Ocean News

WEEK TWO: 6-10 February 2017

Items of Interest

Remote sensing of the oceans by satellites -- Please read this week's Supplemental Information...In Greater Depth for a description of how oceanographers have employed orbiting satellites as observation platforms to make remote observations of the world's oceans.

Ocean in the News

Eye on the tropics -- During the last week, organized tropical cyclones (low pressure systems such as tropical storms and hurricanes that form over tropical oceans) were limited to the South Indian Ocean basin. At the start of last week, Tropical Storm 3S weakened and lost its tropical characteristics before becoming a remnant low pressure system over the eastern sections of the basin offshore of the coast of northwest Australia. The NASA Hurricane Page has additional information and satellite imagery on Tropical Storm 3S.
The second tropical cyclone of last week was Tropical Storm 4S (also known as Carlos), which formed this past weekend in the western sections of the South Indian Ocean approximately 190 miles to the north-northwest of Port Louis, Mauritius. Initial motion was toward the southeast and then to the east-southeast. By late Sunday, Carlos was located to the 180 miles north of Port Louis. Current forecasts indicate that Carlos would curve toward the south and then to the southwest, passing to the north of La Reunion Island by Tuesday. Eventually, Carlos could curve to the southeast as it remains to the east of Madagascar during the later half of this coming week. During this time, Carlos could strengthen to a category 1 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which would correspond to a weak hurricane in the North Atlantic basin.
Celebrating 2017 as the "Year of the Monk Seal" -- NOAA Fisheries' Pacific Islands Regional Office recently noted that this current calendar year of 2017 has been designated as the "Year of the Hawaiian monk seal" in recognition of the tenth anniversary of the publication of the revised "Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal" by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. In addition, this celebration during this current year is also for the recent positive population estimate for the species during the last three years following a decline over the previous six decades. [NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office News]
A nationwide marine biodiversity observation network is described -- NOAA's National Ocean Service is inviting the public to listen to the recently released 16-minute NOAA Ocean Podcast entitled "Marine Life Counts" that describes how the US Marine Biodiversity Observation Network is collecting data in order to monitor marine life in the nation's coastal waters. Gabrielle Canonico, a program manager at NOAA's U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System program, is interviewed in this podcast. . A [NOAA National Ocean Service Podcast]
Investigating how small fish attract whales to a national marine sanctuary off New England coast -- Marine scientists have found that many of the humpback whales and other marine life populating the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary are attracted by sand lance, a small eel-like fish. The The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is located in the waters at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay in New England. [NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries News]
Price of large shrimp rises with Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone" – In a study funded by NOAA, scientists from Duke University, the University of Florida and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service have found that the presence of "dead zone" in the northern Gulf of Mexico tends to cause an increase in the price of large shrimp relative to small shrimp. The "dead zone" represents a large area of hypoxic (low oxygen) bottom water that appears during summer and is the result of excessive nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River system due to agricultural runoff and waste water. The lack of dissolved oxygen is detrimental to most marine life and creates an economic impact that directly affects consumers, fishermen and seafood markets. [NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science News]
Oyster aquaculture credited with nutrient in Chesapeake Bay -- A scientist with NOAA' National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science recently revealed that the use of oyster tissue for nutrient removal in the Middle Atlantic's Chesapeake Bay is credited as a Best Management Practice. This oyster aquaculture practice has been shown to reduce nutrients that have been degrading the water quality of the nation's estuaries. Biological removal of nutrients directly from the water through filtration by shellfish, removes algae and particulates, thereby improving water quality. [NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science News]
"Black box" helps oyster growers prepare for ocean acidification -- An oyster farmer from Maine and an oceanographer from the University of New Hampshire have developed and installed in the oyster hatchery a "black box" containing sophisticated sensors designed to monitor the amount of carbonate in seawater that would affect the growth and survival of oysters. Data collected by these black boxes, which were developed with funding from NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program and Integrated Ocean Observing System, would be used by oyster growers to track year to year changes in carbonate concentrations associated with ocean acidification. Currently, these sensors are being used in the waters off Puerto Rico for tracking changes in corals. The NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow will use these black boxes this year during fisheries surveys off the Atlantic coast. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Orbiting satellite detects underwater eruption in South Pacific -- A coastal geologist from New Zealand's University of Auckland recently discovered an eruption from an underwater volcano in the islands that are part of the Tonga-Kermadec volcanic arc in the South Pacific Ocean when he viewed images obtained from the Operational Land Imager onboard NASA's Landsat 8 satellite. This volcano, which began erupting nearly two weeks ago, could be seen as a a turquoise colored plume of water. [NASA Earth Observatory]
Latest Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacts report released -- During this week scientists from Louisiana State University will release their new research to their colleagues at the 2017 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference in New Orleans. One of the items in their new research includes key information on how the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 affected coastal ecosystems in the northern Gulf of Mexico. [Louisiana State University Media Center]
New theory advanced for explanation of Antarctic glaciation origin -- A team of researchers including those from Quebec's McGill University recently proposed an explanation for the rapid formation of ice sheets on the Antarctic continent at the boundary between the Eocene and Oligocene epochs, around 34 million years ago. Linking two previously held theories, their explanation involves the deepening of the Drake Passage between South America's Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, which helped shift ocean circulation patterns. This strengthening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation led to increased precipitation and a reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide. The reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide would have resulted in the change the climate state in Antarctica from non-glacial to glacial. [McGill University News]
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]
Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com]

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD --

A request: If you have some ocean-related experience that you would like to share with other DataStreme Ocean participants, please send them to the email address appearing at the bottom of this document for possible inclusion in a News file. Thank you. EJH

Concept of the Week: The Birth of Surtsey, A Volcanic Island
In early November 1963, cod fishers plying the waters of the North Atlantic south of Iceland observed what appeared to be smoke or steam emanating from the distant ocean surface. They were witnessing the beginnings of a volcanic eruption that ultimately would give birth to a new island later named Surtsey after Surtur, the fire giant of Norse mythology. Surtsey is located at 63.4 degrees N, 20.3 degrees W or 33 km (20 mi) south of the coast of Iceland. Volcanic activity was nothing new to the fishers who lived on the nearby volcanic Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar). These islands as well as the main island of Iceland straddle the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a divergent tectonic plate boundary where hot molten lava wells up from the Earth's mantle, cools and solidifies into new oceanic crust.

Eruptions that produced Surtsey began on the ocean floor, some 130 m (427 ft) below sea level. The accumulating lava, cinders, and ash first emerged from the sea on 15 November 1963. Over the next 3.5 years, episodic eruptions built an island that eventually covered 2.5 square km (1 square mi) and attained a maximum elevation of 171 m (560 ft) above sea level. The initial eruptions were explosive as hot magma interacted with cold seawater producing dark jets of ash and steam that shot up to 200 m (656 ft) above two main volcanic vents. At this time, clouds of ash and steam rose into the atmosphere to altitudes perhaps as great as 10 km (6.2 mi). Subsequent eruptions were much more peaceful, consisting of quiescent flows of lava. When the eruptions ceased in early June 1967, a cubic kilometer of ash and lava had built up on the ocean floor with 9% of this volcanic material above sea level.

No volcanic activity has occurred on Surtsey since 1967 and geologists consider the volcanic island to be extinct with little risk of future eruptions. Nonetheless, Surtsey remains off limits to visitors except for scientists who obtain permission from the Icelandic government. The island offers scientists a unique opportunity to study not only the geology but also the establishment of plants and animals on the island, a process known as ecological succession. For example, by 1987, some 25 species of higher plants were growing on the initially barren island and 20 species of birds were nesting there.

Unless volcanic activity begins anew, the future is not bright for Surtsey. Some geologists predict that in a hundred years or so the island will be reduced to scattered stacks of rock. The island is composed of basaltic rock that is particularly vulnerable to weathering and erosion, ocean waves are eroding its shores, and the island is gradually sinking into the sea. Scientists reported a total subsidence of about 1.1 m (3.6 ft) between 1967 and 1991. Compaction of the volcanic material and the underlying sea-floor sediments are likely causes of the subsidence. For NASA topographical images of Surtsey, go to http://denali.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/garvin/surtsey.html . These images were obtained using a scanning airborne laser altimeter.

Concept of the Week: Questions

The volcanism responsible for the formation of Surtsey was associated with a [(divergent)(convergent)] tectonic plate boundary.
At present on Surtsey, erosive forces [(are)(are not)] prevailing over volcanic activity.

Historical Events

6 February 1933...The highest reliably observed ocean wave was observed by crew of the US Navy oiler, USS Ramapo, in the North Pacific during the night on its way from Manila to San Diego. The wave was estimated (by triangulation) to have a height of 112 feet. Average winds at the time were 78 mph. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar) (See additional discussion on highest ocean waves)
7 February 1969...USCGC Tern, commissioned on this date and stationed in New York, embodied an advanced concept in servicing aids to navigation. Her over-the-stern gantry system of handling buoys is unique. The automation and modernization of over-age, isolated lighthouses and light stations showed significant progress this year. A new, more effective version of the LAMP (Lighthouse Automation and Modernization Project) plan was promulgated in this year. (USCG Historian's Office)
7 February 1978...The worst winter storm of record struck coastal New England. The storm produced 27.5 inches of snow at Boston, and nearly 50 inches in northeastern Rhode Island. The fourteen-foot tide at Portland, ME was probably the highest of the century. Winds gusted to 79 mph at Boston, and reached 92 mph at Chatham, MA. A hurricane-size surf caused 75 deaths and 500 million dollars damage. (David Ludlum)
8 February 1987...A powerful storm produced blizzard conditions in the Great Lakes Region. North winds of 50 to 70 mph raised the water level of southern Lake Michigan two feet, and produced waves 12 to 18 feet high, causing seven million dollars damage along the Chicago area shoreline. It was the most damage caused by shoreline flooding and erosion in the history of the city of Chicago. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
8 February 2001...The log-carrying ship, Leo Forest, lost much of its cargo as over 2300 logs went overboard approximately 400 miles north of Adak, AK. The ship lost power in waves that were greater than 35 feet and the loss of the logs caused the ship to list 10 degrees to port (left) with the bow three feet down. Fortunately, the ship made safe passage to Dutch Harbor for repairs. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
9 February 1942...The French Liner Normandie, a 79,280-ton luxury ocean liner, burned and capsized in New York Harbor during its conversion to an Allied trip transport ship. (The History Channel)
10 February 1807...With the backing of President Thomas Jefferson, the US Coast Survey was authorized by Congress "to provide for surveying the coasts of the United States." The Coast Survey represents the oldest U.S. scientific organization to encourage commerce and to support a growing economy in a safe and efficient manner. (NOAA History)
10 February 1940...USCGC Bibb and Duane made the first transmissions as weather stations as part of the Atlantic Weather Patrol. (USCG Historian's Office)
10 February 2010....Cyclone Pat slammed The Cook Islands in the South Pacific with 125-mph winds, which destroyed about 80 percent of the island of Aitutaki. (National Weather Service files)
11 February 1809...The American inventor, Robert Fulton patented his steamboat, the Clermont, for the first time, although he had made the first successful steamboat trip up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany, NY in 1807. (Wikipedia) (Today in Science)
11 February 1862...The Secretary of the Navy directed the formation of an organization to evaluate new inventions and technical development, which eventually led to the National Academy of Science. (Naval Historical Center)
11 February 1971...The US and the USSR, along with other nations, signed the multilateral Seabed Treaty outlawing the emplacement of nuclear weapons (or "weapons of mass destruction") on the ocean floor in international waters, or beyond a 12-mile coastal zone. (Wikipedia)
12 February 1907...A collision of the steamer Larchmont and a large schooner, the Harris Knowlton, during a blizzard resulted in the deaths of 332 people. Only nine survivors were rescued. The incident occurred off Rhode Island's Block Island and was the worst disaster in New England maritime history. (RMS Titanic History)
12 February 1997...A combination of heavy surf and high winds contributed to the overturning of a U.S. Coast Guard motor life boat (MLB 44363) on a search and rescue mission when responding to a distress call from the sailing vessel Gale Runner in the stormy North Pacific Ocean off Washington State's Quillayute River Bar. Three of four crew members lost their lives in the first fatal sinking of this type of ship in its 35-year history. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar) (USCG Historian's Office)
13 February 1784...Ice floes blocked the Mississippi River at New Orleans, then passed into the Gulf of Mexico. The only other time this occurred was during the "Great Arctic Outbreak" of 1899. (David Ludlum)