WEEKLY OCEAN NEWS

24-28 August 2009

DataStreme Ocean will return for Fall 2009 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 31 August 2009. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

Ocean in the News:

• Eye on the tropics --- During the past week, the weather remained active across the tropical North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans:
  • In the North Atlantic basin, a tropical depression formed over the waters to the southwest of the Cape Verde Islands last weekend and became Hurricane Bill, the first hurricane of the season, as it moved westward. By midweek, Hurricane Bill curved toward the northwest and became a major hurricane, intensifying to a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale before passing Bermuda. Over this just-concluded weekend, Hurricane Bill continued along a path to the north across the western Atlantic that caused it to brush close to the coast of Nova Scotia. by midweek as it traveled to the northwest. A video loop of satellite images of the clouds associated with Hurricane Bill that were obtained from the new NOAA GOES-14 satellite have been made available, while additional information and satellite imagery is found on the NASA Hurricane Page.
    Early last week, Tropical Storm Ana, this year's first named tropical cyclone in the Atlantic, dissipated over the Caribbean near Hispaniola. Additional information and satellite images concerning Ana appear on the NASA Hurricane Page
    Tropical Storm Claudette, which formed over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico at the start of last week, made landfall along the western Florida's Panhandle and then moved inland to the northeast across central Alabama and northeastern Mississippi, where it dissipated. The NASA Hurricane Page has additional information and satellite imagery for Claudette.
  • In eastern North Pacific basin, a tropical depression that formed at the start of this past weekend over the waters well west of the southwestern Mexican coast quickly intensified to become Tropical Storm Hilda, the eighth tropical cyclone of the season. However, by late Sunday, Hilda had traveled westward across the 140 degree West longitude meridian marking the boundary with the central North Pacific basin.
  • In the central North Pacific, the remnants of former Hurricane Guillermo passed north of the Hawaiian Islands and dissipated by late in the week. This hurricane, which formed in the eastern North Pacific basin, had briefly reached Category 3 status on the Saffir-Simpson Scale during the previous week. Additional information and satellite images on Hurricane Guillermo are posted on the NASA Hurricane Page
  • In the western North Pacific, Typhoon Vamco developed over the waters near the Northern Mariana Islands at the start of last week and by late in the week intensified into a major category 3 typhoon (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) as it moved northward. By this Monday (local time), Vamco was well to the east of Japan. The NASA Hurricane Page has images and additional information on this Typhoon.
    Earlier last week, Tropical Storm Maka dissipated.
• NASA satellites contribute to hurricane research -- A feature article highlights the contributions that NASA's fleet of Earth-monitoring satellites make to the hurricane research program. This fleet includes the A-Train string of satellites, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, QuikSCAT, Terra, Jason-1 and OSTM/Jason-2. NASA also utilizes the data for hurricane research from the GOES satellites operated by NOAA. [NASA JPL] A summarization of the current North Atlantic hurricane season as seen from NASA satellites appears on the NASA Hurricane Page.
• Arctic fisheries plan approved -- The US Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke, recently announced that he approved a plan to prohibit expansion of commercial fishing in federal Arctic waters until sufficient information on fish and the Arctic marine environment is gathered to prevent adverse impacts of commercial harvesting activity on the ecosystem. [NOAA News]
• Recovery Act funding to aid nation's marine navigation projects -- Last week, the US Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke, announced that $40 million was being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for critical hydrographic survey and chart projects across the United States that strengthen the economy, create jobs, and support safe and efficient marine commerce and trade. [NOAA News]
• Scallops survey results announced -- Scientists at the NOAA Fisheries Service's Northeast Fisheries Science Center recently reported that their annual scallop survey off the Northeastern US coast between North Carolina and Massachusetts showed the highest number of juvenile scallops on Georges Bank since 2000, but somewhat less impressive numbers farther south. [NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center]
• Monitoring Africa's coastal mangrove forests -- An environmental scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a colleague have been using data collected by NASA's Landsat satellite, the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) to measure the area, height and biomass of mangrove forests along coastal Africa in an attempt to save these valuable forests from the destructive effects of pollution, deforestation and commercial development. [NASA Earth Observatory]
• What's that hum along the coast? -- Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography claim that the inaudible low-frequency "hum" that is detected by earthquake meters along the western coasts of the Americas and Europe is generated by ocean waves making contact with the coastline. [National Geographic News]
• Source of hazardous chemicals found in plastic debris in oceans -- A chemist at Japan's Nihon University and colleagues report that the large quantities of plastic debris, such as polystyrene and Styrofoam that float across the world's oceans decompose relatively rapidly, releasing potentially toxic chemicals including bisphenol A (BPA) and PS oligomer into the water, which results in additional pollution. [EurekAlert!]
• Bioluminescent "green bombers" found in the deep sea -- Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Sweden's University of Göteborg in Sweden have discovered a worm-like marine creature, nicknamed "green bombers" in deep waters off the California coast with body parts that emit bursts of brilliant green light, which is thought to be a defensive mechanism. [EurekAlert!]
• Feeding mechanism for early marine organism proposed -- Geobiologists at Virginia Tech University have found that some of the oldest complex marine life forms of macroscopic size likely absorbed necessary nutrients through their outer membrane by osmosis for nourishment while living in nutrient-rich oceans more than 540 million years ago. [EurekAlert!]
• Potential source of water in Earth's mantle identified -- Scientists from Oregon State University who developed a global three-dimensional map of electrical conductivity in the Earth's mantle report that the enhanced electrical conductivity in subduction zones along tectonic plates would indicate the possibility that water has been drawn downward into the mantle in these zones during the subduction zones. [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, 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]
• Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com] Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Historical Events:

• 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)
• 24-29 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)
• 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 29^th, 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 30^th as it moved south of Puerto Rico. At that time, highest sustained winds reached 173 mph. On the 31^st, 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...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 24^th, 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. Landfall was just south of Savannah, GA where sustained winds hit 120 mph. (David Ludlum)
• 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)
• 29 August 1583...The Delight was wrecked on Sable Island, Nova Scotia during a heavy gale, blinding rain and thick fog. This was Canada's first recorded marine disaster, taking 85 lives. (The Weather Doctor)
• 29 August 1979...Winds associated with Hurricane David reached 145 mph as the hurricane crossed the island of Dominica. The capital city, Roseau, was devastated, with 56 fatalities and 60,000 out of a population of 80,000 left homeless. About three-quarters of the coconut and banana crops were destroyed. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
• 29 August 1988...The remnants of Tropical Storm Chris drenched eastern Pennsylvania with up to five and a half inches of rain, and produced high winds that gusted to 90 mph, severely damaging a hundred boats in Anne Arundel County, MD. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• 29 August 2005...Hurricane Katrina, the costliest and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in US history, made landfall along the Louisiana Gulf Coast southeast of New Orleans as a category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale after reaching category 5 status. Massive destruction was reported in coastal Mississippi and in New Orleans. As many as 1833 people reportedly died from Katrina in the US. (National Hurricane Center)
• 30 August 1913...The US Navy tested the Sperry gyroscopic stabilizer (automatic pilot). (Naval Historical Center)
• 30 August 1942...A hurricane weakened in moving 160 miles across south Texas from landfall at Matagorda to San Antonio, winds still gusting from 50 to 70 mph at San Antonio for more than five hours. Seventy of 75 planes were damaged at the city airport. Many trees were destroyed, but the famed Alamo's walls withstood the storm. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)

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Prepared by AMS DS Ocean Central Staff and Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D., email hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu
ã Copyright, 2009, The American Meteorological Society.