Weekly Ocean News

26-30 August 2019

Items of Interest:

World Water Week is being held this week -- Aa week-long global water conference, designated as "World Water Week", is being held this week (25-30 August 2019) in Stockholm, Sweden. The focus of this annual conference that is organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute is global water issues. This year's World Water Week will address the theme "Water for society: Including all," emphasizing water as being key to future prosperity and that together, society can achieve a water-wise world.
Watching for high ocean tides along nation's coasts this week -- According to the NOAA National Ocean Service's High Tide Bulletin for Summer 2019, higher than average astronomical tides are expected late this week, beginning on 28 August 2019 and running through 3 September along sections of the nation's coasts. The high tides will be found along the U.S. West Coast (California, Oregon and Washington), Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands and the East Coast, running from Florida's Atlantic coast northward to Maine. A new moon will occur on Friday morning (30 August), followed five hours later by lunar perigee (when the Moon is closest to Earth). These two astronomical events will be responsible for the perigean spring tide that creates higher than normal high tides. [NOAA National Ocean Service News]
Worldwide GLOBE at Night 2019 Campaign for late August is underway -- The ninth in a series of GLOBE at Night citizen-science campaigns for 2019 will continue through Saturday, 31 August. GLOBE at Night is a worldwide, hands-on science and education program designed to encourage citizen-scientists worldwide to record the brightness of their night sky by matching the appearance of constellations with the seven magnitude/star charts of progressively fainter stars. These constellations are Cygnus in the Northern Hemisphere and Sagittarius in the Southern Hemisphere. Activity guides are also available. The GLOBE at night program is intended to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution. The tenth series in the 2019 campaign is scheduled for 20-29 September 2019. [GLOBE at Night]
Hurricane Harvey slammed upper Texas Gulf Coast two years ago -- The upper Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts were subjected to strong winds and torrential rains during the last week of August 2017 as Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a category 4 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) near Rockport, TX late on 25 August, accompanied by maximum sustained surface winds of 130 mph. After making landfall, Harvey weakened to a tropical storm that traveled slowly to the northeast along the Texas coast before moving offshore on the 28th. Harvey returned onshore the next day near the mouth of the Sabine River, the boundary between Texas and Louisiana. Harvey became a remnant low over the lower Mississippi Valley on 1 September. The Houston, Beaumont, and Port Arthur metropolitan areas of Texas were especially hard hit as the slow-moving tropical cyclone was responsible for rainfall totals over a five-day span that exceeded three feet. These rainfall totals, which were responsible for catastrophic flooding especially in Houston, may surpass the 5-day and tropical storm related precipitation totals for the contiguous United States. At least 70 fatalities in the U.S. have been attributed to Harvey. [National Weather Service Houston Weather Office]
A change in seasons -- This Saturday, 31 August 2019, marks the end of Northern Hemisphere's meteorological summer, the three-month span of June, July and August that meteorologists frequently use for record keeping processes. Meteorological autumn (September, October and November) for the Northern Hemisphere starts the following day, 1 September 2019.
Additional information will be presented in the next several weeks concerning meteorological seasons and the astronomical seasons, such as the familiar autumn season that begins on the autumnal equinox in three weeks on Monday, 23 September 2019.
Ocean charts, units, location and time -- Please read this week's Supplemental Information…In Greater Depth for a description of a several types of oceanographic charts along with the definitions of some units commonly used in ocean science to locate positions on the Earth's surface and to identify time.

Ocean in the News:

Eye on the tropics -- -- During the last week, several named tropical cyclones (low pressure systems that form over tropical ocean waters, with near surface maximum sustained winds that intensify to tropical storm- or hurricane-force status) were found over the North Atlantic and the eastern and western sections of the Pacific Ocean basins in the Northern Hemisphere:
- In the North Atlantic basin (that includes the open North Atlantic, along with the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico) --
  - Tropical Storm Chantal formed from an area of low pressure late Tuesday night off the coast of Canada, approximately 485 miles to the southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia or 475 miles to the south-southwest of Cape Race, Newfoundland. At the time, Chantal was traveling toward the east. This minimal tropical storm (with maximum sustained surface winds of little more than 40 mph) was relatively short-lived as it weakened to a tropical depression moving toward the east-southeast late Wednesday night. However, Tropical Depression Chantal continued to head generally toward the east-southeast and then south over the next several days, finally becoming a remnant low pressure feature during the predawn hours of early Saturday (local time). At that time, this remnant of former Tropical Storm Chantal was located approximately 785 miles to the west of the Azores. Additional information and satellite images for Tropical Storm Chantal can be found on the NASA Hurricane Blog.
  - The fifth Atlantic tropical depression of 2019 formed Saturday morning from an area of low pressure to the east-southeast of Barbados in the Lesser Antilles. This tropical depression strengthened quickly to become Tropical Storm Dorian, the four named tropical cyclone of the year, by late Saturday afternoon. At that time, Tropical Storm Dorian was traveling west as it was located approximately 725 miles to the east-southeast of Barbados. As of Sunday evening, Dorian had strengthened as its center was located approximately 335 miles to the east-southeast of Barbados or 445 miles to the east-southeast of St. Lucia. Dorian was forecast to curve toward the west-northwest on Monday as it would head toward the Windward Islands, reaching them by late Monday or early Tuesday. Strengthening would continue, with Dorian possibly reaching hurricane strength (maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph) by Tuesday when the center of this system would be over the Caribbean Sea.
- In the eastern North Pacific basin (located off the western North American continent and extending westward to the 140-degrease West meridian) --
  Tropical Storm Ivo, the ninth named tropical cyclone of 2019 in the eastern Pacific, formed last Wednesday afternoon approximately 490 miles to the south of Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. With maximum sustained surface winds estimated to have reached 45 mph, Ivo was strengthened as traveled toward the west or west-northwest late Wednesday and early Thursday. By Thursday evening, maximum sustained surface winds had reached 65 mph as Ivo was curving to take a path toward the north-northwest. Weakening slightly, Ivo passed over Mexico's Clarion Island (formerly called Santa Rosa), which is located approximately 430 miles to the south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, on Friday morning. Ivo weakened as it continued to head toward the north-northwest over this past weekend. Ivo weakened to a tropical depression early Sunday morning as it was located approximately 460 miles to the west-northwest of Cabo San Lucas. Although Ivo was well off the coast of Baja California, swells generated by the wind circulating around the tropical storm reached the west coast of Baja California Sur. The NASA Hurricane Blog has satellite images and additional information on Tropical Storm Ivo.
- In the western North Pacific basin (extending from the International Dateline westward to the Asian continent) --
  A tropical depression formed last Wednesday east of the Philippines. By late Thursday (local time), this tropical depression, which was heading to the west, had strengthened to become Tropical Storm Bailu. Over this past weekend, Bailu curved to take a track to the northwest toward Taiwan. As of late Friday, Bailu had strengthened to peak intensity, as maximum sustained surface winds reached 65 mph. Bailu crossed southern Taiwan and then made landfall in East China's Fujian province on Sunday. Following landfall, Bailu continued inland, where it dissipated approximately 260 miles to the east-northeast of Hong Kong. Torrential rains accompanying this system were responsible for landslides and flooding that produced at least one fatality in Taiwan and two in the Philippines. Consult the NASA Hurricane Blog for additional information and satellite images on Tropical Storm Bailu.
A saildrone completes first circumnavigation of Antarctica in search of carbon dioxide -- On 3 August 2019, an unmanned instrumented saildrone completed a 13,670-nautical mile journey of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica in 196 days, successfully collecting oceanic and atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements. A saildrone is a 7-meter long autonomous sailing drone that travels on the ocean surface, using wind power for transit and solar power for instrumentation. Sensors onboard the saildrone make measurements of the temperature, winds, humidity, air pressure and carbon dioxide in the lower atmosphere, the ocean current bathymetry and fish biomass in the ocean subsurface and a variety of properties such as wave height and period, sea surface temperature and sea water carbon dioxide concentration on the oceanic surface. Although the saildrone that successfully circumnavigated Antarctica suffered damage to some of its instruments after colliding with an iceberg, two companion saildrones had to return to port after being more severely damaged by storms soon after leaving New Zealand in January. This journey was the first autonomous circumnavigation of Antarctica. Scientists comparing data from the saildrone and other floats report that parts of the Southern Ocean identified by the floats as potential carbon dioxide sources were indeed emitting the greenhouse gas during stormy winter months. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Public comment is solicited on proposed changes to a national marine sanctuary in Florida -- During the last week, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries released a draft of changes that have been proposed for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary, which protects the only coral barrier reef in the continental United States, is in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and western North Atlantic Ocean surrounding the Florida Keys. A range of potential changes have been proposed to existing boundaries, regulations, and marine zones within the sanctuary, to better address long-term declines to the region’s marine resources as well as ongoing and emerging threats due to changing ocean conditions. The public is invited to post comments on the proposal through 31 January 2020. [NOAA News]
An autonomous hydrographic survey launch successfully completes field tests -- The NOAA Ship Rainier, a hydrographic survey vessel that maps the ocean from its home port of Newport, OR, recently completed field tests on one of its hydrographic survey launches that had been converted into a semi-autonomous vessel. This survey launch is intended to be operated remotely. Cameras were installed around the vessel to provide a field of view for the remote operator. Antennas for new data radios were added for telemetry between the launch and the ship or shore, with a range of up to six nautical miles. [NOAA Office of Coast Survey News]
Global temperature and ice cover for July 2019 reviewed -- Scientists at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) recently reported on their analysis of preliminary weather data collected during the month of July 2018:

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature for July 2019 was the highest for any July since sufficiently detailed global climate records began in 1880. This July 2019 global combined temperature was 1.71 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century (1901-2000) average of 60.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This record largest temperature anomaly (arithmetic difference between observed and average temperatures) for this past month, exceeded the previous record set in July 2016, which was 1.58 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average. Furthermore, the July 2019 global land and ocean surface temperature anomaly was the largest for any month on record, meaning that last month was the warmest month over the last 140 years. When considered separately, the average air temperature over the world oceans for July 2019 was the highest for any July since 1880, while the temperature over the globe's land surfaces was the second highest July reading on record.
The researchers at the National Snow and Ice Data Center noted the areal extent of the Arctic sea ice for July 2019 was the smallest for any July since satellite surveillance began in 1979. The extent of the Antarctic sea ice also was the smallest July ice extent in the 41-year record. [NOAA/NCEI State of the Climate]
A global map of Selected Significant Climate Anomalies and Events for July 2019 is available from NCEI.

An iceberg from Antarctica may have tied record for northernmost drift -- Using satellite imagery, researchers from the U.S. National Ice Center recently reported detecting an iceberg from Antarctica, identified as A-57a, to be drifting approximately 570 miles off Punta Delgada on Argentina's eastern coast. This position would be as far north as C-02, the previous recordholder that had been last seen in February 1990 at a latitude of 42.5 degrees south. [NOAA NESDIS News]
Science partners are investigating "climate indicators" for global change -- Scientists from as many as thirteen federal departments and agencies have been collaborating through the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) to assess certain key fundamental environmental factors that can be used as a guide in tracking and understanding global changes in climate. These researchers have identified 16 "climate indicators" that show trends over time in key aspects of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and environmental conditions. Eight of these indicators are considered to be on the global scale, including concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases; the size and extent of arctic sea ice and arctic glaciers; global surface (land and ocean) temperatures; and sea level rise. The other eight indicators are on the U.S. national scale, such as the number of billion-dollar disasters; the start and length of frost-free seasons; excessive precipitation events; and heat waves. [NOAA NCEI News]
Predicting when climate-related impacts on Earth's oceans will occur -- A team of researchers from Princeton University, South Korea and Switzerland recently examined a range of possible impacts on the Earth's oceans associated with a warming climate to predict when these impacts are likely to occur. Their aim was to distinguish those ocean changes linked to human-made climate change from those due to natural variability. Some impacts, such as sea temperature rise and ocean acidification, have reached levels over the last three decades that exceed what would be attributed to natural variability. However, other impacts, such as changes to microbial productivity, which serves as the basis of the marine food web and which regulates the planet's carbon and oxygen cycles, should occur over the next century. [Princeton University News]
New flood maps indicate greater flood risks along U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts -- Researchers at Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have generated new maps for each of the 171 counties on the U.S. Eastern and Gulf Coasts that show an increasing risk for coastal flooding due to tropical cyclones and to sea level rise associated with climate change. Their studies show that on the Eastern Coasts "100-year floods" could become annual occurrences in New England by the end of the 21st century. The term "100-year floods" is often used to identify a flood that occurs once every 100 years, but is more correctly refers to a flood that has a one-percent chance of happening every year. In addition, the researchers indicated that a 100-year flood could happen every one to 30 years along the southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico shorelines. [Princeton University News]
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]

Concept of the Week: Touring the AMS Ocean Studies RealTime Ocean Portal

You are embarking on a study of the world ocean and the role of the ocean in the Earth system. This unique teacher enhancement course focuses on the flow and transformations of energy and water into and out of the ocean, the internal properties and circulation of the ocean, interactions between the ocean and the other components of the Earth system, and the human/societal impacts on and responses to those interactions. Throughout this learning experience, you will be using the RealTime Ocean Portal to access and interpret a variety of environmental information, including recent observational data. The objective of this initial Concept of the Week is to explore features of the RealTime Ocean Portal website.

On Monday of each week of the course, we will post the current Weekly Ocean News that includes Ocean in the News (a summary listing of recent events related to the ocean), Concept of the Week (an in-depth analysis of some topic related to the ocean in the Earth system), and Historical Events (a list of past events such as tsunamis or specific advances in the understanding of oceanography). When appropriate, a feature called Supplemental Information-In Greater Depth will be provided on some topic related to the principal theme of the week.

You will use the RealTime Ocean Portal to access and download the weekly "Current Ocean Studies" that complement Investigations found in your Ocean Studies Investigations Manual. These materials should be available Monday morning. Click the appropriate links to download and print these electronic Current Ocean Studies and answer forms as well as your Chapter Progress and Investigations Response forms.

The body of the RealTime Ocean Portal provides links to the Earth System, information on Physical & Chemical, Geological, and Biological aspects of the ocean, Atmosphere/Ocean Interaction, the Great Lakes, and extras-a glossary of terms, maps and educational links. Following each section is a link to other sites that examine the various subsystems of the Earth system. Let's take a quick tour to become more familiar with the RealTime Ocean Portal.

Under Physical & Chemical, click on Sea Surface Temperatures. This image uses a color scale to depict the global pattern of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) (in degrees Celsius) averaged over a recent 7-day period and based on measurements by infrared sensors onboard Earth-orbiting satellites. (Depending on your browser, you may have to place your mouse cursor on the slide bar to the right and scroll down to view the entire image.) Compare SSTs in the Northern Hemisphere with those in the Southern Hemisphere. Return to the RealTime Ocean Portal.

Under Geological, click on Current Earthquake Activity. The USGS Current World Seismicity page provides a global map of the locations of seismic (earthquake) events color-coded for the past seven days. The size of the squares represents the magnitude of recent earthquakes. Note how earthquakes are concentrated along the margin of the Pacific Ocean. Details of recent earthquakes can be found by clicking on their map squares. Return to the RealTime Ocean Portal.

The ocean is home to a wide variety of habitats and organisms. Under Biological, click on Ocean "Color" (Productivity).
http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/browse.pl
This is a satellite-derived (SeaWiFS) color-coded map of biological productivity in the surface waters of the world ocean is averaged from October 1978 to date. Orange and red indicates the highest productivity, while dark blue and violet indicate the lowest productivity. Note the vast areas of relatively low productivity over the central regions of the subtropical ocean basins. Individual months within this period may be chosen for viewing. Now return to the RealTime Ocean Portal.

Take a few minutes when you have time to browse the other data and information sources available via the RealTime Ocean Portal. Return frequently to learn more about the many resources on the ocean in the Earth system. Bon voyage!

Historical Events

26 August 1883... Krakatau (or 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 24th, 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...A Category 3 hurricane made landfall near Savannah, GA and is estimated to have killed about 700 people. (National Weather Service files)
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. This Category 3 (possibly Category 4) hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale slammed into Savannah, GA with a 16-foot storm surge. Landfall was just south of Savannah, GA where sustained winds hit 120 mph. (David Ludlum) (National Weather Service files)
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 1971...Tropical Storm Doria swept directly over New York City, flooding subways in the Big Apple. (National Weather Service files)
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)
27 August 2005...Hurricane Katrina reached Category 3 intensity in the Gulf of Mexico about 335 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. (National Weather Service files)
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 1937...A devastating cyclone hit Hong Kong, killing 11,000. (National Weather Service files)
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 August 2005...Hurricane Katrina attained category 5 status (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) on the morning of the 28th and reached its peak strength at 1 PM CDT that day, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and a minimum central pressure of 902 millibars (or 26.6 inches of mercury). (National Weather Service files)
28 August 2011...After striking eastern North Carolina on the 27th as a category 1 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale), Hurricane Irene weakened to a tropical storm as it moved into New York State and New England. Widespread flooding occurred from New Jersey through New York to Vermont, with 14 river flooding records broken in the Empire State alone. Ten thousand flights were canceled and several interstates were closed. Forty people lost their lives. (National Weather Service files)
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 1994...Hurricane John, also known as Typhoon John, lasted 30 days as it affected both the northeast and northwest Pacific basins making it the longest lasting tropical cyclone. It formed in the northeast Pacific, reached hurricane force there, moved across the Dateline and was renamed Typhoon John, and then finally recurved back across the dateline and renamed Hurricane John again. (National Weather Service files)
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 earlier. 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)
31 August 1842...The U.S. Naval Observatory was authorized by an act of Congress. (Today in Science History)
31 August 1954...Hurricane Carol swept across eastern New England killing 60 persons and causing $450 million damage. It was the first of three hurricanes to affect New England that year. (National Weather Service files)
31 August 1979...Category 5 Hurricane David destroyed 70% of the Dominican Republic and took the lives of 2,000 of her citizens. The storm would go on to strike the U.S. and produce torrential rains up the entire length of the East Coast. (National Weather Service files)
1 September 1858...The first transatlantic cable failed after less than one month of service. (Today in Science History)
1-2 September 1935...Perhaps the most intense hurricane ever to hit the U.S. struck the Florida Keys with sustained winds of over 155 mph with gusts exceeding 200 mph. On the 1^st, the "Labor Day Hurricane" formed rapidly over the Bahama Islands and intensified into a Category 5 hurricane (on the Saffir Simpson Scale) with sustained winds of over 155 mph and gusts exceeding 200 mph. On the next day, this hurricane generated a 15-foot tide and waves 30-ft high, as it became the first known Category 5 hurricane to hit the U.S. Mainland. More than 400 persons perished in the storm on that Labor Day, including many World War I veterans building a bridge from the Keys to the mainland. The barometric pressure at Matecumbe Bay, FL hit a record low for the U.S. at 26.35 inches of mercury (or 892 millibars). (David Ludlum) (The Weather Doctor)
1 September 1974...Navy Lieutenant Judy Neuffer became the first woman to pilot a plane through the eye of a hurricane. (Northern Indiana NWSFO)
1 September 1985...A joint French-American expedition headed by the American explorer, Robert D. Ballard, located the wreck of the sunken liner RMS Titanic on the floor of the North Atlantic using an experimental and unmanned submersible craft Argo. The wreckage of the Titanic, which sank in April 1912 on its maiden voyage after colliding with an iceberg, was found at a depth of about 13,000 feet and approximately 400 miles west of Newfoundland. (The History Channel)
1 September 2002...Typhoon Rusa was the most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in over 40 years as 132 people were reported dead or missing. Winds gusted up to 127 mph and up to 36 inches of rain fell in eastern and southern South Korea. (National Weather Service files)