WEEKLY OCEAN NEWS

26-30 June 2017

DataStreme Ocean will return for Fall 2017 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 21 August 2017. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

Items of Interest:

Welcome -- to the weather, climate and ocean educators attending the 2017 AMS DataStreme LIT Leader Summer Training Workshop that is being held in Boulder, CO from 26 through 29 June 2017.
Celebrating National Ocean Month -- As part of National Ocean Month, this week is designated as Week 4: Ocean Life according to the web portal maintained by NOAA's National Ocean Service. This web portal provides links to a variety of websites containing facts, images and video designed to highlight both the beauty and importance of the nation's oceans and marine environment. [NOAA National Ocean Service]
Change in seasons -- The beginning of July marks the beginning of the new heating season. Traditionally, meteorologists and climatologists define the heating season to run from 1 July to 30 June of the following year. Heating degree day units are accumulated commencing on 1 July. Likewise, the snow season runs from 1 July through 30 June. Seasonal snowfall totals for next season will be summed from Tuesday.
The half-way point -- Midpoint of calendar year 2017 will occur at noon, local standard time, on Sunday, 2 July 2017.
Participate in Field Photo Weekends -- The public is invited to join thousands of other citizen scientists from across the nation in the Field Photo Weekend during the Fourth of July Weekend (1-4 July 2017) by taking six digital photographs at a place that you choose and submit these photos via a smart phone app or on-line with your computer. These photos, to be taken in the four cardinal directions (North, East, South and West), upward and downward, will be placed in the Geo-Referenced Field Photo Library, which is a community- and citizen- science data portal for people to share, visualize and archive geo-referenced photos from the fields in the world. Field Photo Weekend is a partnership between CoCoRaHS, the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program (SCIPP) and the Earth Observation and Modeling Facility (EOMF)
By taking photos this weekend along with another Field Photo Weekend later this year (Labor Day weekends), one can begin to visualize seasonal changes in the local landscape. Similar Field Photo Weekends were held earlier this year on the Presidents' Day (18-20 Feb. 2017) and the Memorial Day (27-29 May 2017) Weekends.

Ocean in the News:

Eye on the tropics --- Two named tropical cyclones developed during the last week:

In North Atlantic basin, a tropical disturbance formed at the start of last week over the waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. As of early Tuesday afternoon this low pressure area had intensified to become Tropical Storm Cindy, the third named Atlantic tropical cyclone for 2017. At the time, Cindy was approximately 260 miles south of Morgan City, LA. Cindy traveled toward the northwest and then to the north, making landfall in southwestern Louisiana near Lake Charles early Thursday morning. Later that morning Tropical Storm Cindy had weakened to a tropical depression as it continued traveling north across Louisiana. Rain from remnants of Cindy continued across the Southeast and then to the Atlantic Seaboard to as far north as New England through the rest of the week. Consult the NASA Hurricane Page for additional information on Tropical Storm Cindy.
In eastern North Pacific basin, a tropical depression formed this past Saturday evening off the southwestern coast of Mexico. By late Saturday night this depression had organized to become Tropical Storm Dora, the fourth named tropical cyclone in the eastern Pacific during 2017. As of Sunday morning, Dora was located approximately 180 miles to the southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. Current forecasts indicate that Dora would travel toward the west-northwest over the first few days of this week, generally paralleling the southwestern coast of Mexico, before curving toward the west. Intensification is anticipated, with the possibility that Dora could become a weak hurricane. Coastal sections of Mexico could receive locally heavy rainfall from Dora.

Crowdsourcing used to produce ocean floor maps -- NOAA's Office of Coastal Survey and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) have been encouraging mariners and scientists to provide bathymetry data-that help produce a more detailed map of the ocean floor. [NOAA NCEI News]
Virtues of the TAO buoy network are extoled -- A meteorologist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center wrote the ENSO blog for the ClimateWatch Magazine that describes how observational data collected by the Tropical Atmospheric Ocean (TAO)—moored buoy array across the equatorial Pacific Ocean can be used to help monitor El Niño/La Niña conditions and provide scientists with an improved understanding of these ENSO events. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Third largest "dead zone" in northern Gulf of Mexico is predicted for this summer -- Scientists with NOAA, the US Geological Survey (USGS) and their partners at several university research centers have recently forecast the size of this year's hypoxic or "dead zone" in the northern Gulf of Mexico could become the third largest in areal extent in the 32 years of monitoring This dead zone is a hypoxia region in the waters of the Gulf with either low or no dissolved oxygen. This Gulf outlook is based on models developed by NOAA-sponsored researchers at the University of Michigan, the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Virginia Institute of Marine Studies, Texas A&M University and North Carolina State University. These models rely upon nutrient loading estimates from the US Geological Survey (USGS). [NOAA News]
Review of global weather and climate for May 2017 -- Scientists at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) report that the recently concluded month of May was the third warmest May since sufficiently dense global climate records began in 1880. They based their report on preliminary calculations of the combined global land and ocean surface temperature for May 2017, which was 1.49 Fahrenheit degrees (0.83 Celsius degrees) above the 20th century (1901-2000) average May temperature of 58.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This May global temperature lagged behind corresponding temperatures for May 2016 and May 2015. When considered separately, the global ocean surface temperature for May 2017 was 1.28 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, making last month's sea surface temperature the third highest May temperature since 1880. ENSO-neutral conditions remained across the equatorial Pacific Ocean during May 2017. The average May 2017 land surface temperature was 2.07 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, which meant that this land surface temperature was the seventh highest May land temperature in the 138-year period of record. Regions of northwest Africa, central and eastern Asia, and polar Canada showing very large positive temperature deviations.
In addition, the combined global land and ocean surface temperature for the last three months (March through May), which is considered meteorological spring in the Northern Hemisphere (fall in the Southern Hemisphere), was the second highest since 1880, only 0.27 Fahrenheit degrees below the record highest May temperature set one year ago (2016). Furthermore, the ocean and land surface temperatures for this year's three-month interval were also second highest on record. [NOAA/NCEI State of the Climate]
The May 2017 sea ice extent data for the Arctic Ocean was the fifth smallest May sea ice extent since satellite records began in 1979. The sea ice cover on the waters around Antarctica in May was the second smallest May extent since 1980.
According to data from the Rutgers Global Snow Lab, the Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent for May was the twelfth largest in the 51-year period of record.
A global map of Selected Significant Climate Anomalies and Events for May 2017 is available from NCDC.
An El Niño forecast from Down Under -- Forecasters with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology recently issued an updated ENSO Outlook, in which they reported a current continuation of ENSO-neutral conditions. According to their interpretation, while sea surface temperatures (SST) in the tropical Pacific were slightly above-average, the atmospheric component of the system, the trade winds and Southern Oscillation Index were well within the neutral range. Therefore, the Australian forecasters have canceled their previous El Niño WATCH, which had meant the likelihood of El Niño forming in 2017 would have been at least 50%. [Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology]
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]

Historical Events:

26 June 1954...Eight fishermen were swept off the breakwater of the Montrose Harbor in Chicago, IL by a seiche on Lake Michigan. At the time, this killer wave rose suddenly from a serene Lake Michigan; sunny skies and calm wind conditions were reported. The seiche, produced by an earlier squall on the lake, caused the lake water to rise ten feet. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
26 June 1959...Following an opening ceremony attended by President Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth II, 28 naval vessels sailed from the Atlantic to the Great Lakes, marking the formal opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway to seagoing ships. The Seaway consists of a navigational channel system of canals, locks, and dredged waterways, permitting travel from the Gulf of St. Lawrence nearly 2500 miles inland to Duluth, MN on Lake Superior. (Naval Historical Center) (The History Channel)
26 June 1986...Hurricane Bonnie made landfall on the upper Texas coast. A wind gust to 98 mph occurred at Sea Rim State Park. The town of Ace recorded 13 inches of rain. (Intellicast)
26 June-7 July 1989...Tropical Storm Allison formed in the Gulf of Mexico from remnants of Hurricane Cosme in the eastern North Pacific. Periods of heavy rain caused flooding across parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Winnfield, LA reported a six-day total of 29.52 inches of rain. This system was responsible for eleven deaths and approximately $500 million in damage. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
27 June 1898...The first solo circumnavigation of the globe was completed in slightly more than three years by the Canadian seaman and adventurer Joshua Slocum of Briar Island, NS when he returned to Newport, RI after sailing the 37-foot Spray a distance of 46,000 miles. After completing this voyage Slocum wrote the classic book, Sailing Alone Around the World describing his adventure. (Wikipedia)
27-29 June 1954...Excessive rains from remnants of Hurricane Alice led to the Rio Grande River's worst flood. Up to 27.1 inches of rain fell at Pandale, TX. As many as 55 people died from the flooding. The river crest at Laredo, TX broke the previous highest record by 12.6 feet. The roadway on the US. 90 bridge over the Pecos River was covered by 30 feet of water on the 27^th. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar) (David Ludlum)
27 June 1957...Hurricane Audrey smashed ashore at Cameron, LA drowning 381 persons in the storm tide, and causing 150 million dollars damage in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Audrey left only a brick courthouse and a cement-block icehouse standing at Cameron, and when the waters settled in the town of Crede, only four buildings remained. The powerful winds of Audrey tossed a fishing trawler weighing 78 tons onto an offshore drilling platform. Winds along the coast gusted to 105 mph, and oil rigs off the Louisiana coast reported wind gusts to 180 mph. A storm surge greater than twelve feet inundated the Louisiana coast as much as 25 miles inland. It was the deadliest June hurricane of record for the U.S. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
27 June 1978...SEASAT, an experimental U.S. ocean surveillance satellite was launched. Each day, SEASAT made 14 orbits of the Earth, and in a period of 36 hours was able to monitor nearly 96% of the oceanic surface. The measurement equipment on board was able to penetrate cloud cover and report measurements such as wave height, water temperature, currents, winds, icebergs, and coastal characteristics. Although it operated for only 99 days before a power failure, it had already shown the viability of the use of a satellite for collecting oceanic data. The information collected was shared with scientists and was used to aid transoceanic travel by ships and aircraft. (Today in Science History)
27-29 June 1997...Although thousands of miles away, a strong low pressure system southeast of New Zealand produced surf up to seven feet, with occasional sets to ten feet, along Hawaii's south-facing coasts. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
28 June 1983...A waterspout was sighted over Hazin Bay on the Yukon-Kuskokwim coast of Alaska. Satellites detected thunderstorms in the area. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
28 June 1992...A slow moving tropical depression produced excessive rains across southwest Florida. Four-day totals ending on the 28^th, ranged up to 25 inches in the Venice area, with a general 8 to 14 inches over Sarasota and Manatee counties. Two deaths resulted from the flooding. (Intellicast)
29 June 1860...The replacement to the first iron-pile lighthouse in the U.S. was completed at Minot's Ledge, near Scituate, Massachusetts, replacing the one at the same site that was built between 1847 and 1850, lighted 1 Jan 1850 but destroyed in a storm in April 1851. In 1860, the last stone was laid for the new Minot's Ledge lighthouse, five years minus one day after workmen first landed at the ledge. The final cost of about $300,000 made it one of the most expensive lighthouses in U.S. history. It stood off Boston's south shore, just outside Boston Harbor to warn ships of rocks that had claimed many vessels. The first granite block was laid for the new lighthouse on 9 July 1857. The lantern room and second order Fresnel lens were put into place and illuminated on 22 August 1860. This structure has withstood all storms since, and stands to this day. (Today in Science History)
29 June 1982...The Soviet Union launched COSPAS I, the first search and rescue satellite ever launched. In combination with later SARSAT satellites, a new multi-agency, international, search and rescue service was made operational. On 11 September 1982, it was credited with helping to save the crew of Cessna 172, a Canadian airplane. (USCG Historian's Office)
30 June 1886...The second destructive hurricane in nine days hit the Apalachicola-Tallahassee area of Florida. (David Ludlum)
30 June 1972...The entire state of Pennsylvania was declared a disaster area because of the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes, which claimed 48 lives, and caused 2.1 billion dollars damage. (The Weather Channel)
30 June 1989...The remains of Tropical Storm Allison dropped copious amounts of rain on Louisiana. Winnfield, LA reported 22.52 inches of rain in three days, and more than thirty inches for the month, a record for June. Shreveport received a record 17.11 inches in June, with a total for the first six months of the year of 45.55 inches. Thunderstorms also helped produce record rainfall totals for the month of June of 13.12 inches at Birmingham, AL, 14.66 inches at Oklahoma City, OK, 17.41 inches at Tallahassee, FL, 9.97 inches at Lynchburg, VA, and more than 10.25 inches at Pittsburgh, PA. Pittsburgh had also experienced a record wet month of May. (The National Weather Summary) (Intellicast)
1 July 1792...A tremendous storm (a tornado or hurricane) hit Philadelphia and New York City. Many young people were drowned while out boating on that Sunday. (David Ludlum)
1 July 1885...The United States terminated reciprocity and a fishery agreement with Canada. (Wikipedia)
2 July 1578...The British seaman and explorer, Martin Frobisher sighted Baffin Island, one of Canada's Arctic islands. (Wikipedia)
2-6 July 1994... Heavy rains from the remains of Tropical Storm Alberto produced major flooding across northern and central Georgia. Three-day rains exceeded 15 inches at Atlanta. An impressive 21.10 inches of rain fell at Americus, GA on the 6^th to establish a 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Peach State. Numerous road closures and bridge washouts. Thirty people were killed and 50,000 were forced from their homes, as 800,000 acres were flooded. Total damage exceeded $750 million.. (NCDC) (Intellicast)