Weekly Ocean News

WEEKLY OCEAN NEWS

9-13 September 2019

September is National Preparedness Month -- The month of September has been declared National Preparedness Month (NPM), which is aims to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies, including natural disasters. NPM is managed and sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Administration's (FEMA) Ready Campaign in conjunction with the Ad Council, A toolkit of marketing materials is provided to help promote the month and represents the lead on this campaign that was originally launched in 2004. The overarching theme for 2019 NPM is "Prepared, Not Scared" with an emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults, and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Week 2 of the 2019 NPM starts this week (8-14 September) with the theme of "Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters." [FEMA's Ready.gov]
Impressive images of Hurricane Dorian from space -- Astronauts onboard the International Space Station took several digital photographs of the powerful Hurricane Dorian as it traveled across the western North Atlantic and the northern Bahamas before taking a track northward along the Southeast coast of the U.S. One of the astronauts took a photograph looking down on the Dorian's central eye early last week as this category 5 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) was near Grand Bahama Island. At the time, the Space Station, which orbits at an altitude of 240 miles above the Earth's surface, was passing over the hurricane. The central eye, which tends to have cloud-free skies when viewed from below, is a characteristic of a tropical cyclone (low pressure system that forms over tropical oceans.) [NASA Space Station] A 1:24-minute loop was made by animating high-resolution visible imagery from the GOES East satellite that was zoomed in on the eye of Hurricane Dorian for 13 hours on Saturday, 31 August. [Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison] Two days earlier, an astronaut took a distant photo of Hurricane Dorian showing the classic counterclockwise circulation around the hurricane as it was heading toward the northern Bahamas. [NASA Earth Observatory]
Approaching the peak in the Atlantic hurricane season -- The historic or statistical annual peak in the Atlantic hurricane season will occur this week (9-13 September), as determined as the date during the entire season with most frequent number of named tropical cyclones (tropical storms and hurricanes), based upon over 100 years of record. This date corresponds closely with the time of peak sea-surface temperatures across those sections of the North Atlantic considered hurricane-breeding areas. [NWS National Hurricane Center]
National Estuaries Week commences this coming weekend --This Saturday, 14 September, marks the start of National Estuaries Week that will run through the following week and end the following Saturday (the 21st). National Estuaries Week, which was first organized in 1988 by NOAA, is designed to celebrate promote the importance of estuaries and bays and how the public benefits from healthy, thriving the coastal ecosystems. During this week, which is the 30th anniversary observance, organizations from around the nation including the non-profit Restore America’s Estuaries member groups, NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserves and EPA's National Estuary Programs will be organizing special events, such as workshops, beach clean-ups, hikes and trips involving canoes and kayaks. [Restore America's Estuaries]
Girl Scouts can earn a merit badge for saving endangered species -- NOAA Fisheries, the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital and other partners have developed a new Endangered Species Act patch. Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador level Girl Scouts from any state can earn this patch. They must complete a five-step process to explore, investigate, create, experience, and present information about plants and animals that are protected under the Endangered Species Act. [NOAA Fisheries Feature Story]
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 -- With warm water across the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the Northern Hemisphere, the weather remained active last week across these basins due to 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):
- In the North Atlantic basin (that includes the open North Atlantic, along with the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico) --
  - Hurricane Dorian began last week as a catastrophic category 5 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) that had made landfall on the eastern end of Grand Bahama Island. At that time, maximum sustained surface winds ranged between 180 and 185 mph. Minimum central pressure late Sunday night was 914 mb (26.99 inches of mercury). This landfall was the second in the Bahama Islands, after a landfall on Great Abaco Island earlier that Sunday. Hurricane Dorian became essentially stationary just to the north of Grand Bahama Island, which contributed to the destruction across the island due to wind and water. After devastating the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian began a slow trek westward and then toward the north-northwest, bringing torrential rains, strong winds and high surf along the eastern coast of the Florida Peninsula. On Tuesday afternoon, Dorian weakened to a category 2 system. However, Dorian strengthened back to a category 3 hurricane on after traveling over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Over the course of Wednesday and Thursday, Hurricane Dorian moved northward offshore of Georgia and before curving toward the northeast offshore of the coast of the Carolinas. On Friday morning, Dorian made a brief landfall on Cape Hatteras, which is part of North Carolina's Outer Banks, as a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained surface winds of 90 mph. Over this past weekend, Dorian continued traveling rapidly off the East Coast of the U.S., before transitioning to an extratropical cyclone (midlatitude low pressure system) late Saturday afternoon. Soon thereafter, this post-tropical cyclone made landfall near Sambro Creek in Nova Scotia, or about 15 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia. At the time of landfall, the estimated maximum sustained winds were 100 mph. From Saturday evening through Sunday, the remnants of former Hurricane Dorian raced to the northeast across Nova Scotia and out over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, accompanied by maximum sustained winds of at least 65 mph. As of late Sunday night, the remnant low was traveling across the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean approximately 375 miles to the north of Cape Race, Newfoundland and it was fully extratropical. The NASA Hurricane Blog has additional information and satellite information on Hurricane Dorian.
  - A tropical depression formed last Tuesday afternoon over the southeast Gulf of Mexico approximately 215 miles to the east-northeast of Tampico, Mexico. By early afternoon, this tropical depression strengthened to become Tropical Storm Fernand, the sixth named tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin during 2019. Fernand headed to the west and west-northwest toward the Mexican coast over the next 20 hours, making landfall at midday on Wednesday along the coast of northeastern Mexico, approximately 35 miles north of La Pesca. After moving into Mexico, Fernand weakened to a tropical depression late Wednesday, accompanied by torrential rains that resulted in flash flooding. By late Wednesday night, Fernand had dissipated over the rugged terrain of Mexico, roughly 130 miles to west-southwest of the mouth of the Rio Grande River. Consult the NASA Hurricane Blog for satellite images and additional information on Tropical Storm Fernand.
  - The eighth Atlantic tropical depression of 2019 formed late Tuesday (local time) over the eastern tropical Atlantic approximately 585 miles to the west-northwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. This tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Gabrielle on Wednesday morning as it was heading toward the northwest. Gabrielle began to disintegrate and became a remnant low on Friday morning as it was located 1060 miles to the southwest of the Azores. However, this this remnant low re-intensified to become Tropical Storm Gabrielle early Friday afternoon. Traveling toward the northwest, Gabrielle strengthened late Friday and into Saturday, when some reorganization took place. On Sunday, Gabrielle continued to strengthen as it traveled to the north-northwest. As of early Monday, Tropical Storm Gabrielle had reached a position approximately 1225 miles west of the Azores. Gabrielle was forecast to turn toward the northeast by Monday night. Weakening should occur, with Gabrielle expected to lose its tropical characteristics by Tuesday evening. Satellite images and further information on Tropical Storm Gabrielle can be found on the NASA Hurricane Blog.
- In the eastern North Pacific basin (located off the western North American continent and extending westward to the 140-degrease West meridian) --
  Tropical Storm Juliette, was headed toward the west-northwest last Sunday morning, approximately 480 miles to the south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, which is located at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. Juliette became the fifth eastern Pacific hurricane of 2019 on Monday afternoon as it was traveling toward the northwest. Over the next six hours, Juliette intensified rapidly to become a category 3 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) as the hurricane's central eye was located approximately 440 miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. On Tuesday morning, Hurricane Juliette passed close to Clarion Island, where a Mexican Navy station reported sustained winds of 99 mph, with a peak wind gust of 130 mph. At peak intensity on Tuesday afternoon, Juliette had maximum sustained surface winds that reached 125 mph, making it a high-end category 3 hurricane. Over the next several days, Juliette weakened as it curved to take a track toward the west-northwest. As of Friday morning, Juliette had weakened to become a tropical storm as maximum sustained surface winds had fallen to 70 mph as the system was approximately 955 miles to the west of Cabo San Lucas. Further weakening occurred before Juliette became a post-tropical cyclone approximately 1245 miles to the west of Baja California on Saturday morning. Consult the NASA Hurricane Blog for additional information and satellite imagery on Hurricane Juliette.
- In the central North Pacific basin (between the 140-degree West meridian of longitude and the International Dateline) --
  A tropical depression that formed last Wednesday morning just to the east of the boundary between the east and central North Pacific basins quickly entered the central Pacific. This tropical depression, which had been designated as Tropical Depression 12E (the 12th tropical depression of 2019 in the eastern Pacific) traveled toward the west-southwest on Wednesday and Thursday morning. By early Thursday afternoon (Hawaiian time), TD-12E had finally strengthened to become Tropical Storm Akoni as maximum sustained surface winds reached an estimated 45 mph as this westward-tracking system was located approximately 855 miles to the southeast of Hilo, HI. Akoni continued traveling westward as a slightly disorganized tropical storm through the remainder of Thursday, before weakening to a post-tropical remnant low during the predawn hours of Friday morning. At that time, this remnant low was approximately 690 miles to the southeast of Hilo. Consult the NASA Hurricane Blog for more information and satellite images on Tropical Storm Akoni.
- In the western North Pacific basin (extending from the International Dateline westward to the Asian continent) --
  - Tropical Depression 14W (TD14-W) was heading to the west-northwest at the beginning of last week, as it passed near Wake Island. By late Monday, TD14-W had strengthened to become Tropical Storm Faxai. For most of last week, Faxai traveled toward the northwest as a tropical storm. However, by Friday, Faxai intensified to become a typhoon as maximum sustained surface winds reached 75 mph. Curving toward the north, Typhoon Faxai strengthened explosively, becoming a major category 4 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson Scale when winds reached 130 mph by early Sunday (local time). By Monday, Faxai was approximately five miles west of Yokosuka, which is located on Japan's Honshu island. Faxai was forecast to curve toward the northeast and head out over the western North Pacific during the first several days of this week. Weakening is anticipated. The NASA Hurricane Blog has satellite images and additional information on Typhoon Faxai.
  - Tropical Depression 15-W was traveling toward the north-northwest across the Philippine Sea several hundred miles to the east of the Philippine island of Luzon at the start of last week. TD-15W strengthened to become Tropical Storm Lingling, which then strengthened to a typhoon with maximum sustained surface winds of at least 75 mph as it traveled northward by Tuesday. On Wednesday, Typhoon Lingling traveled northward across the China Sea. By late Thursday, Lingling had strengthened to become a category 4 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson Scale to the east of Taiwan. At peak intensity, maximum sustained surface winds surrounding this major typhoon reached 140 mph. Over this past weekend Typhoon traveled northward across the Yellow Sea, passing to the west of the Korean Peninsula on Saturday. With winds surrounding Lingling reached 122 mph at the island of Heuksando, Lingling became one of the most powerful typhoons to hit South Korea. These winds caused substantial wind damage and at least three fatalities in South Korea. Lingling continued to travel northward to make a landfall in North Korea as a category 1 typhoon. Eventually, Lingling weakened into a minimal tropical storm on Sunday as it traveled inland across North Korea and then a remnant low as it headed into eastern Russia. Additional information and satellite images for Typhoon Lingling can be found on the NASA Hurricane Blog.
Damage assessment imagery from after Hurricane Dorian are available -- Aerial damage assessment images for Hurricane Dorian covering the eastern coast of the U.S. have become available. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) began collecting this imagery last Wednesday in specific areas identified by NOAA in coordination with FEMA and other state and federal partners. These collected images are available to view online via the NGS aerial imagery viewer. [NOAA National Ocean Service News]
A marine heatwave in North Pacific resembles "the Blob" -- A research scientist at NOAA Fisheries' Southwest Fisheries Science Center has developed a system for tracking and measuring heatwaves in the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. A marine heatwave occurs when ocean temperatures are much higher than usual for an extended period of time. A new heat wave has developed this year that has been designated as the "Northeast Pacific Marine Heatwave of 2019 (NEP19)." This current heatwave is comparable to the marine heatwave that developed in 2014 that was known as "the Blob" of warm ocean water. "The Blob" was unique in the history of monitoring in the California Current, and persisted until mid-2016, disrupting the West Coast marine ecosystem and depressing salmon returns. Currently, NEP19 stretches from Alaska to California and ranks as the second largest MHW in the northern Pacific Ocean in the last 40 years. Sea surface temperatures in the northeast Pacific range are as much as four Celsius degrees above the long-term average. [NOAA Fisheries Feature Story]
Feasibility of using robotic gliders to monitor Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" is tested -- NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) has evaluated the use of underwater gliders to improve the monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, which is also known as the "dead zone." A comprehensive plan has been developed for integrating glider capabilities into Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone monitoring efforts. Following a successful 2014 demonstration in the northern Gulf using two gliders, NCCOS sponsored a pilot study in 2016 and 2017 that further expanded and tested the application of gliders toward improving Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone monitoring. A revised scalable glider monitoring implementation plan in 2018. [NOAA NCCOS News]
An investigation that teaches how increased sea surface temperatures have an effect on hurricanes -- A lesson that is appropriate for high school and college level students investigates the link between ocean temperatures and hurricane intensity. The students analyze instrumental and historical data and explore possible future changes. This investigation was originally developed by a professor of oceanography and paleoclimatology at Eastern Michigan University. Teaching tips are also available. [NOAA Climate.gov Teaching Climate]
Seasonal outlook indicates many areas across globe could see warmer than average conditions -- Early last week, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its quarterly ENSO update. (ENSO stands for El Niño/Southern Oscillation). This seasonal outlook calls for sea surface and land temperatures across large parts of the world to be above normal in September-November, despite the expected absence of a full-blown El Niño event. (El Niño represents coupled anomalous atmospheric and oceanic circulation regimes that are best noted by above-average sea surface temperatures of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.) The global-scale seasonal forecasts of precipitation and surface temperature are routinely produced by as many of the 13 WMO-accredited long-range forecasting centers using sophisticated atmosphere-ocean coupled models, which consider ENSO as well as other climate drivers. [WMO 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: 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.

Historical Events

9 September 1945... A "computer bug" was first identified and named by LT Grace Murray Hopper while she was on Navy active duty in 1945. It was found in the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator at Harvard University. The operators affixed the moth to the computer log, where it still resides, with the entry: "First actual case of bug being found." They "debugged" the computer, first introducing the term. (Naval History Center)
9 September 1960... The storm surge from Hurricane Donna submerged the Overseas Highway. The hurricane broke the pipeline that supplied fresh water to the Florida Keys. (National Weather Service files)
10 September 1919...A hurricane struck the Florida Keys drowning more than 500 persons. Over 700 people died along the hurricane's track from the Lesser Antilles to Corpus Christi, TX. (David Ludlum)
10 September 1965...Hurricane Betsy slammed Louisiana with wind gusting to 130 mph at Houma, resulting in 58 deaths and over 17,500 injured. The storm surge and flooding from torrential rains made Betsy the first billion-dollar hurricane with losses exceeding $1.4 billion.
10 September 2017...Hurricane Irma, a former category 5 hurricane, crossed the Florida Keys as a category 4 hurricane before making final landfall at Marco Island on Florida's southwest coast as a category 3 hurricane; considered to be fifth-costliest Atlantic hurricane ($64.8 billion in damage) (National Weather Service files)
11 September 1961...Very large and slow-moving Hurricane Carla made landfall near Port Lavaca, TX. Carla battered the central Texas coast with wind gusts to 175 mph, and up to 16 inches of rain, and spawned a vicious tornado (F4 on the Fujita tornado intensity scale) which swept across Galveston Island killing eight persons and destroying 200 buildings. A storm surge of up to 18.5 feet inundated coastal areas and Bay City was deluged with 17.1 inches of rain. The hurricane claimed 45 lives, and caused $300 million in damage. The remnants of Carla produced heavy rain in the Lower Missouri Valley and southern sections of the Upper Great Lakes Region. (David Ludlum) (Storm Data) (Intellicast)
11 September 1992...Hurricane Iniki, the third most damaging hurricane in US history, hit the Hawaiian Islands of Kauai and Oahu, with sustained winds of 145 mph and gusts to 175 mph. Six people died as a result of the hurricane; it caused between $2 billion and $3 billion in damage. (National Weather Service files)
12 September 1775...The Independence Hurricane caught many fishing boats on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland killing 4000 seamen, most from Britain and Ireland. (The Weather Doctor)
12 September 1857...The S.S. Central America sank while in the midst of a hurricane off the North Carolina coast after beginning to take on water the previous day (11^th). Approximately 400 people onboard were lost, the greatest single loss from a commercial ship due to a hurricane. (Accord Weather Calendar)
12 September 1960...Hurricane Donna made landfall on central Long Island and then tracked across New England. Wind gusts reached 140 mph at the Blue Hills Observatory in Milton, MA and 130 mph at Block Island, RI. MacDowell Dam in New Hampshire recorded 7.25 inches of rain. Although a record tide of 6.1 feet occurred at the Battery in New York City, elsewhere fortunately the storm did not make landfall at the high tides so its effects were minimized. This was the first hurricane to affect every point along the East Coast from Key West, FL to Caribou, ME. (Intellicast)
12 September 1979...Hurricane Frederick, a former Category 4 storm, smashed into the Mobile Bay area of Alabama packing 132-mph winds. Wind gusts to 145 mph were reported as the eye of the hurricane moved over Dauphin Island, AL, just west of Mobile. Frederick produced a fifteen-foot storm surge near the mouth of Mobile Bay. Winds gusted to hurricane force at Meridian, MS although the city is 140 miles inland. The hurricane was responsible for five fatalities and was the costliest in U.S. history to date causing $2.3 billion in damage. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
12 September 1988...The island of Jamaica was given a devastating hit by Hurricane Gilbert. (National Weather Service files)
13 September 1928...The hurricane that struck Puerto Rico was called the San Felipe Hurricane because that is the saint's day on which it struck. One thousand people died. (National Weather Service files)
13 September 1988...A reconnaissance plane measured Hurricane Gilbert as the strongest Atlantic hurricane (up to that time) at 888 millibars or 26.22 inches of mercury. (National Weather Service files)
13-16 September 2004...Hurricane Ivan affected coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle, with landfall near Gulf Shores, AL early on the 16th. Before breaking loose of its mooring, a buoy just south of the Alabama coastal waters reported a peak wave height of 52 feet on the 15th. (Accord Weather Guide Calendar)
14 September 1716...The Boston Light, the first lighthouse in America, was first lighted just before sunset. This light was located on Little Brewster Island to mark the entrance to Boston Harbor and guide ships past treacherous rocks. This original light was blown up by the British in 1776, rebuilt in 1783, and is currently the last staffed station in the U.S. (Today in Science History)
15 September 1752...A great hurricane produced a tide (storm surge) along the South Carolina coast that nearly inundated downtown Charleston. However, just before the surge reached the city, a shift in the wind caused the water level to drop five feet in ten minutes. (David Ludlum)