WEEKLY OCEAN NEWS

25-29 June 2018

Items of Interest:

'Tis the season for "night shining clouds" -- The United Kingdom's BBC Weather Centre recently produced a one-minute video of noctilucent (night shining) clouds, the highest clouds in the Earth's atmosphere, often found at altitudes of approximately 50 miles. The video was produced by a group of weather watchers in the British Isles who observed these clouds at the start of last week. These clouds, which consist of ice crystals, are sometimes visible during astronomical twilight (or an hour or two after sunset) during the summer months. They appear similar to bluish, very high cirrus clouds. [BBC Weather Centre]
Change in seasons -- The beginning of July (Sunday, 1 July 2018) 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 at U.S. stations will be summed from Sunday.
Lightning Awareness Week -- The National Lightning Safety Council will celebrate the annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week during this upcoming week, 24 through 30 June 2018. Check for specific topics that will be featured each day. According to NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS), an average of 47 people across the nation are killed annual by lightning and numerous more are injured. NWS has a "Lightning Safety" website that has links to a variety of informational and teacher resource materials. Several states are also observing this week with statewide activities, including Colorado. [National Lightning Safety Council]

Ocean in the News:

Eye on the tropics -- During the past week, two tropical cyclones were reported in the eastern North Pacific basin.
Tropical Depression Carlotta approached the western coast of the Mexican State of Michoacán at the start of last week. Moving along the coast, this former tropical storm produced torrential rains along the southwestern coast of Mexico as it traveled toward the northwest on Monday. As of late last Monday evening, Carlotta had weakened to a remnant low, which eventually dissipated. The NASA Hurricane Page has additional information and satellite imagery on Tropical Storm Carlotta.
The fifth tropical depression of 2018 in the eastern North Pacific formed last Saturday evening over the open waters approximately 700 miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. Traveling toward the north, this tropical depression became more organized and strengthened to became Tropical Storm Daniel on Sunday morning when maximum sustained surface winds reached 40 mph, the threshold for it to become a named tropical cyclone. At that time, Daniel was continuing to travel toward the north as it was located approximately 615 miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. As of early Sunday evening, Tropical Storm Daniel was located approximately 545 miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas, as it was traveling to the north-northwest. Daniel was forecast to begin curving toward the northwest as it was expected to weaken on Monday and then degenerate to a remnant low by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
First named tropical cyclones of year have occurred in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins -- A meteorologist from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has posted an "Event Tracker" blog for the ClimateWatch Magazine describing the formation of Subtropical Storm Alberto in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in late May and the development of Hurricane Aletta in the eastern North Pacific in early June. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Public is cautioned not to rely on single hurricane runs this season -- The Director of the National Weather Service, Dr. Louis Uccellini, recently cautioned the public not to rely upon the output from one run made from a single computer model for assessing the future track and intensity of a hurricane. He explained that the National Hurricane Center uses a "consensus" forecast from five unique models as guidance when making the official forecast for an approaching hurricane. Each of these models are run with different initial conditions, physics, and model resolutions. [National Weather Service News]
Fishery disaster funding made available following 2017 hurricanes -- During this past week the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, allocated $200 million in disaster funding to help fishers and the businesses and communities that rely upon them to recover and rebuild following hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017. Additional funding has been appropriated and allocated for the nine fishery disasters that devastated the West Coast and Alaska fisheries from 2014 to 2017. [NOAA News]
A built-in "speed bump" may offer protection for hurricanes during active Atlantic hurricane eras -- A contractor with NOAA's Climate Program Office describes the apparent built-in speed bump that exists during active hurricane eras, saving the U.S. coast from some of the approaching major hurricanes. A NOAA scientist has constructed maps of the tropical Atlantic, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico that show the differences in vertical wind shear and sea surface temperature between the current active hurricane era (1993-2015) and the previous quiet period (1970-1992). During the current active hurricane era, the sea surface temperatures across the main hurricane development region in the eastern Atlantic were above average, while the vertical wind shear was relatively weak. Consequently, hurricane formation was favored. However, the waters over the Gulf of Mexico and off the U.S. Southeastern coast were cooler than average during the current active period, along with a stronger wind shear. Such a situation would not be favorable for hurricane development. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
An average-sized "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 should be close to the average areal extent in the 33 years of monitoring. This so-called dead zone is a hypoxia region in the waters of the Gulf with either low or no dissolved oxygen, which is caused by excess nutrient pollution, primarily from urbanization and agriculture in the watershed. For comparison, the Gulf dead zone last year was the largest for the record that began in 1985. The 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]
A vision of science and technology is advanced for the nation's oceans -- The White House National Science and Technology Council recently released a 52-page document entitled Science and Technology for America's Oceans: A Decadal Vision that is a draft plan intended to identify the nation's pressing ocean research needs and opportunities in ocean science and technology for the next decade. Five goals have been identified. [NOAA Stories]
Video shows how to "share the shore" with marine wildlife -- A 4-minute video entitled "Please kōkua: Share the shore with marine wildlife" was produced by NOAA Fisheries as a means of informing the public of safe viewing guidelines for sea turtles, dolphins, and seals in the Pacific Islands. The word "kōkua" means to help or support in the Hawaiian language. [NOAA Fisheries Video]
An international oceanography satellite reaches tenth anniversary at tracking sea level rise -- During this past week, the joint U.S./European Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) on the Jason-2 satellite marked its tenth anniversary, having made more than 47,000 orbits of Earth as it measures sea level change across the globe, observes ocean currents, studies climate phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña, and monitors the long-term rise in global mean sea level. The Jason-2 satellite has been joined by Jason-3 in early 2016, resulting in a slightly different science mission for the earlier satellite that entails collecting data along a series of very closely spaced ground tracks from a slightly lower orbit. [NASA Global Climate Change News]
Review of global weather and climate for May 2018 -- Scientists at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) report that the recently concluded month of May was the fourth 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 2018, which was 1.44 Fahrenheit degrees (0.80 Celsius degrees) above the 20th century's (1901-2000) average May temperature of 58.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This global temperature lagged behind temperatures for the month of May in 2016, 2015 and 2017. When considered separately, the global ocean surface temperature for May 2018 was 1.19 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, making last month's sea surface temperature the fourth highest May temperature since 1880. The average May 2018 land surface temperature was 2.05 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, which meant that this land surface temperature tied May 2013 for the seventh highest May land temperature in the 139-year period of record.
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 1.48 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, or the fourth highest temperature since 1880.
The May 2018 sea ice extent data for the Arctic Ocean was the second smallest May sea ice extent since satellite records began in 1979, following behind the record smallest extent in May 2016. The sea ice cover on the waters around Antarctica in May was the third smallest May extent since 1980.
According to data from the Rutgers Global Snow Lab, the Northern Hemisphere snow cover extent for May was the 37th largest in the 52-year period of record.
[NOAA/NCEI State of the Climate]
A global map of Selected Significant Climate Anomalies and Events for May 2018 is available from NCEI.
An updated El Niño forecast from Down Under -- Forecasters with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology recently issued an updated ENSO Outlook, in which they reported that although ENSO-neutral conditions were continuing, the warming in the tropical Pacific Ocean and the some of the latest computer model outlooks indicate development of El Niño conditions during Southern Hemisphere spring (September through November). Therefore, the Australian forecasters have moved the Bureau's ENSO Outlook status to an El Niño WATCH, meaning the likelihood of an El Niño forming in 2018 would be at least 50 percent, or double the normal chance. [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:

25 June 1957...Hurricane Audrey moved northward, slowly strengthening until the 26th. At that time, a strong upper level trough led to its acceleration and the hurricane deepened rapidly on its final approach to the Texas/Louisiana border. Audrey became the strongest hurricane on record for the month of June upon landfall, as it reached category four strength. Its acceleration was unanticipated, and despite hurricane warnings in place, 418 people perished in the storm, mainly across southwest Louisiana. (National Weather Service files)
25 June 2012...Tropical Storm Debby dropped colossal amounts of rain on northern and central Florida. Curtis Mill, in the Panhandle near Tallahassee, received 28.78" of rain in about two days! (National Weather Service files)
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)