Weekly Ocean News

18-22 November 2019

Items of Interest

A Long Polar Night -- After being above the horizon for only 74 minutes this Monday, the sun set at 1:49 PM Alaska Standard Time (18 November 2019) at the northernmost city in Alaska, Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow), for the last time this year. The next time the sun will rise above the local horizon in Barrow will be at 1:09 PM AST on 23 January 2020. On that date, the sun will remain above the horizon for 60 minutes. While the sun will be below the horizon for the next 66 days, residents of this city will have roughly three hours of some diffuse sunlight each day that is equivalent to civil twilight, provided the cloud cover is not too thick. To check the sunrise and sunset times of Barrow or any location in the United States go to https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/usa while the US Naval Observatory's on-line, interactive service for the entire year is being upgraded.
Worldwide GLOBE at Night 2019 Campaign for mid to late November commences -- The twelfth in a series of GLOBE at Night citizen-science campaigns for 2019 will commence this Monday (18 November) and continue through Thursday, 28 November. 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 Perseus in the Northern Hemisphere and Grus 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 thirteenth series in the 2019 campaign is scheduled for 18-27 December 2019. [GLOBE at Night]
Watch for high ocean tides along nation's coasts over this coming weekend -- According to the NOAA National Ocean Service's High Tide Bulletin for Fall 2019, higher than average astronomical tides are expected to begin this coming Saturday and Sunday (23-24 November 2019) and running through Thursday (28 November) of the following week along sections of the nation's coasts. The high tides during this upcoming weekend will be found along the entire U.S. Atlantic Coast, running from Florida's Atlantic coast northward to Maine, the West Coast running from California northward to Washington, the coasts of Alaska and around the Hawaiian Islands. Lunar perigee (when the Moon is closest to Earth) will occur early Saturday morning (23 November), followed more than three days later by the new moon (when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun) late Tuesday morning (26 November). These two astronomical events will be responsible for the perigean spring tide that creates higher than normal high tides. Furthermore, mean sea level is generally higher in the fall months along the Atlantic Coast due to warmer, expanding ocean water and changes in weather patterns. [NOAA National Ocean Service News]
A new module helps students explore ocean and coastal acidification -- NOAA Education recently released a new "NOAA's Data in the Classroom" module that uses story maps to help educators and their students learn about ocean and coastal acidification. This new module uses series of interactive web maps, apps and videos that helps the students explore relationships between carbon dioxide, ocean pH and aragonite saturation state with near real-time NOAA data. [NOAA Education News] Editor’s note: Four other "NOAA's Data in the Classroom" modules have been released previously on El Niño, Sea Level, Coral Bleaching and Water Quality. EJH
Online tool is available to assess daily weather records -- NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) has a readily accessible Daily Weather Records Data Tool that provides summaries of recent global and U.S. daily weather records with options to view monthly, annual, all-time, or selected records. This tool, which provides insight into recent weather and climate behavior, analyzes maximum and minimum temperature, precipitation and snowfall records from a selected set of weather observing stations in NCEI's Global Historical Climatological Network. [NOAA NCEI News]
Species dominance and ocean properties -- Discover how variations in both the physical and chemical properties of ocean waters can be accompanied by changes in the dominance of the various species of marine life in this week's Supplemental Information...In Greater Depth.

Ocean in the News:

Eye on the tropics -- Tropical cyclone activity was limited to the North Pacific during the last week:
- In the eastern North Pacific basin (located off the western North American continent and extending westward to the 140-degrees West meridian) --
- In the western North Pacific basin (extending from the International Dateline westward to the Asian continent) --
Satellite detects "cloud streets" developing over the North Atlantic -- A natural-color image generated from data collected last Wednesday morning by the MODIS sensor onboard NASA’s Terra satellite shows "cloud streets" forming over the waters of the western North Atlantic offshore of the Middle Atlantic and southern New England coasts. A relatively cold air mass that spread across the Northeast U.S. and out over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic was responsible for increasing large stratocumulus type clouds organized in rows that appear as cloud streets oriented parallel to the near-surface winds. The cold dry air moving over the warm ocean waters becomes unstable and humidified to develop convective type clouds. [NASA Earth Observatory]
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion -- NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) recently released their "El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion" that showed ENSO-neutral conditions in both the tropical oceans and atmosphere were observed during the month of October 2019, meaning that neither an El Niño or La Niña event was underway. While sea surface temperatures (SST) across the western equatorial Pacific were above-average levels during this past month, near-average to below-average SST values were found in the eastern equatorial Pacific. In general, atmospheric and oceanic components of the system appeared to be consistent with an ENSO-neutral condition. Most of the available climate forecast models that are used by CPC and IRI indicate anticipated ENSO-neutral conditions to persist through the Northern Hemisphere's 2020 spring (March-May). Therefore, forecasters at CPC are keeping the ENSO Alert System Status at its "Not Active" status. They consider ENSO-neutral conditions to be favored during the Northern Hemisphere winter (December 2019 -February 2020) with an approximately 70 percent chance, and these conditions would continue through boreal spring 2020 with a 60-65 percent chance. (Note: The criteria used for CPC's ENSO Alert System is available.).
With ENSO-neutral conditions continuing to persist through the foreseeable future, a NOAA research scientist wrote an ENSO in which she took a tour of the "tropical neighborhood" to see what other climate patterns are occurring. She notes that the recent small increases in the SST within the Niño 3.4 region of the equatorial Pacific used to determine if an El Niño, or La Niña condition exists may be associated with "subseasonal variability" and not a signal for the development of El Niño. Several experts were consulted who discussed an active Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) that could affect the SST in the Niño 3.4 region as well as in the Indian Ocean. IOD represents an irregular oscillation of the SST patterns across the Indian Ocean, with the western Indian Ocean becomes alternately warmer and then colder than the eastern part of the ocean at intervals that can last from two to seven months. The MJO is a major fluctuation in tropical weather on weekly to monthly time scales that consists of an area of active storms and rising air traveling from west to east along the Equator. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
A detailed and more technical El Niño/Southern Oscillation Diagnostic Discussion with supporting maps and charts is available from CPC.
Forecasters with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology recently issued an updated ENSO forecast from a Southern Hemisphere perspective, which is primarily for a region over the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans. They reported continuation of ENSO-neutral conditions, as both atmospheric and oceanic components of the climate system were close to average. In addition, they noted that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) remained strongly positive, with above average SSTs in the western Indian Ocean and lower-than-average SSTs in the eastern Indian Ocean. However, a transient Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) across the basin caused some weakening of the IOD. Since the current conditions and the majority of the international climate models point to a continuation of these ENSO-neutral conditions through Southern Hemisphere summer in early 2020, the Bureau's ENSO Outlook remains INACTIVE. [Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology]
Another warm winter is foreseen over the Arctic region -- During the fourth session of the Arctic Climate Forum (ACF) that was held at the end of October, an outlook for the forthcoming winter season across the Arctic basin was provided. In addition to temperature, sea ice extent and precipitation outlooks, the climate conditions in the Arctic basin during this past summer season were reviewed. The past summer was warmer than average over most of the Arctic domain, with Eastern Siberia experiencing its highest mean summer temperature on record. However, north central Canada and the northwestern part of Russia had below-average temperatures. The minimum sea ice extent in September was the second lowest on record since 1979. The ACF outlook for November 2019 through January 2020 indicates that surface air temperatures are expected to be above average over essentially the entire Arctic. The fall freeze-up of sea ice is expected to be earlier than normal in Barents Sea, located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia, but near the normal time in Canada's Hudson Bay and later than normal for all other regions. The maximum sea ice extent in March 2020 is expected to be below or near normal. The ACF, which was held virtually, was hosted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and coordinated by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. [WMO Media News]
Larval fish hatcheries are being invaded by prey-sized plastics -- An international team of scientists including those from NOAA's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center have found that many larval fish species from different ocean habitats are ingesting plastics that surround them in their preferred nursery habitat. The researchers used field-based plankton tow surveys and advanced remote sensing techniques to identify larval fish nursery habitats in the coastal waters of Hawaii. They found lval fish into congregate and grow large the surface slicks w, which also has concentrations of buoyant, passively floating plastics. [NOAA Fisheries Feature Story]
Drones used to help NOAA researchers in four different areas-- NOAA scientists are using unmanned drones in their research efforts because these aircraft can collect valuable data in remote or hostile environments. Four examples are provided where NOAA scientists are using drones: monitoring fur seal populations in Al'ska’s Pribilof Islands; improving hurricane forecasts by collecting data in the boundary layer above the ocean surface; mapping salmon habitat; and identifying harmful algal blooms [NOAA Research News]
A changing climate causes toxic algal blooms to worsen -- A team of researchers from Stanford University and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center recently reported that widespread, harmful algal blooms are becoming more common in freshwater bodies around the globe. They based their findings on three decades of remote sensing data from satellites to detect the algae found in lakes. One of their conclusions was that "summertime algal blooms are indeed worsening in large freshwater lakes around the world—and climate change may be undercutting efforts to combat the problem." [EOS Earth & Space Science 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: Living Coral and El Niño

El Niño episodes of 1982-83 and 1997-1998, the most intense of the 20th century, confirmed the connection between higher than average ocean temperatures and bleaching of hermatypic corals. (Hermatypic corals live in warm shallow water and build large reefs.) Water temperatures higher than 29°C (the normal maximum sea surface temperature in the equatorial eastern Pacific) can trigger expulsion of zooxanthellae, microscopic dinoflagellates whose symbiotic relationship with coral polyps is essential for the long-term survival of coral. Without zooxanthellae, coral polyps have little pigmentation and appear nearly transparent on the coral's white skeleton, a condition known as coral bleaching. If maximum temperatures are not too high for too long, corals can recover, but prolonged warming associated with an intense El Niño (that may persist for 12 to 18 months) can be lethal to coral. Most hermatypic corals thrive when the water temperature is 27°C, but do not grow when the water becomes too cold. Although the ideal temperature varies with species and from one location to another, the temperature range for optimal growth is quite narrow--only a few Celsius degrees. This sensitivity to relatively small changes in water temperature is an important source of information on past climates as fossil coral is a significant component of many limestones. Evidence of bleaching episodes in fossil corals may yield important clues to past changes in the world's tropical ocean.

Coral, sometimes referred to as "the rainforests of the ocean," provides a base for local ecosystems and have many benefits (e.g., fisheries, tourism) that are important in many parts of the globe. Hence, vulnerability to El Niño-associated warming is an object of considerable scientific interest. During the 1997-98 Niño, NOAA charted significant coral bleaching from portions of the Great Barrier Reef near Australia, French Polynesia in the south Pacific, in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya, and around the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. Closer to home, coral bleaching was reported in the Florida Keys, the Cayman Islands, and off the Pacific coast of Panama and Baja California. Fortunately, damage from the 1997-98 El Niño warming was less drastic than the 1983-84 El Niño when up to 95% of the corals in some locations died. Many of the corals damaged in the late 1990s have at least partially recovered including important reefs in the Florida Keys. For additional information on coral status, go to the NOAA website http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/.

Historical Events:

18 November 1421...Wind-driven waves from an intense storm breached Dutch dikes on the Zuider Zee, sweeping away 72 villages. At least 10,000 people died in "St. Elizabeth's flood." (Accord Weather Guide Calendar)
18 November 1929...A magnitude 7.2 submarine earthquake centered on the Grand Banks off the south coast of Newfoundland broke 12 transatlantic telegraph cables and triggered a tsunami that destroyed many south coast communities on Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula. (Wikipedia)
19 November 1493...The explorer Christopher Columbus became the first European to go ashore on modern day Puerto Rico one day after seeing it for the first time. At the time, he named the island San Juan Bautista. (Wikipedia)
19 November 1978...A waterspout came onshore to become a tornado near Muhio Wharf in Hilo Harbor on Hawaii's Big Island. Some industrial buildings lost their roofs. The proximity of the waterspout-tornado caused an airliner to change its landing approach to Hilo's airport. (Accord Weather Guide Calendar)
19 November 1996...The last component of the Confederation Bridge was placed that crosses the Northumberland Strait between Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. This two-lane eight-mile long bridge, which was opened in May 1997, is the longest bridge over ice covered saltwaters in the world. Ice covers the strait for five months per year. (Today in Science History)
20 November 1820...The 238-ton American whaler Essex from Nantucket, MA was attacked by an 80-ton bull sperm whale approximately 2000 miles off the western coast of South America. Of the 20 crew members that escaped in three open boats, only five survived the 83-day journey to the coastal waters of South America. The classic novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville (1851) was inspired in part by the story of the Essex. (The History Channel)
20 November 1985...Kate intensified to a major Category 3 Hurricane and as she moved west of Key West, Florida with top winds of 115 mph and a minimum central pressure of 954 millibars or 28.17 inches of mercury. The next day Kate made landfall between Panama City and Apalachicola, Florida. Tides ran 8 to 10 feet above normal. Many houses were damaged by fallen trees. Many power poles and lines were downed. Several roads were washed out. (National Weather Service files)
21 November 1987...Truk Island (Federated States of Micronesia at 7.4 degrees N, 151.7 degrees E) was struck by the rapidly intensifying Tropical Storm Nina, as winds gusted to 95 mph. Five died, and most buildings were destroyed. A storm of such intensity so close to the equator is somewhat unusual. (Accord Weather Guide Calendar)
21 November 1994...Hurricane Gordon caused 1122 deaths in Haiti, mostly in mudslides. Eight died when Gordon came ashore in Florida as a category 1 hurricane with winds of 85 mph. Over 14 inches of rain fell at Fort Lauderdale. The storm caused an estimated damage of $400 million in the US alone. (National Weather Service files)
22 November 1992...Supertyphoon Gay generated gusts up to 120 mph on Guam in the western Pacific. Only one injury was sustained. Earlier, when at its peak approximately 1000 miles southeast of Guam, Super typhoon Gay had sustained surface winds estimated to 185 mph with gusts to 225 mph. (Accord Weather Guide Calendar)
23 November 1869...The clipper ship, the Cutty Sark, was launched at Dumbarton, Scotland. This three-masted and 212-foot long ship was one of the last clipper ships to be built and is the only one surviving to the present day, residing in a dry dock at Greenwich, England. (Wikipedia)
23 November 1912...The Rouse Simmons (also known as "The Christmas Tree Ship") was a three-masted schooner famous for sinking during a violent storm on Lake Michigan on this day. The ship was bound for Chicago with a cargo of Christmas trees when it foundered off the coast of Two Rivers, WI, killing all on board. (National Weather Service files)
23-24 November 1981...Typhoon Irma, the worst in 10 years, struck north central Philippines (mostly Luzon) with winds to 139 mph and a storm surge of 16 feet. More than 236 people died, while 600,000 were made homeless. Entire provinces were left without power or communication. (Accord Weather Guide Calendar)
24 November 1982...Hurricane Iwa lashed the Hawaiian Islands of Niihau, Kauai, and Oahu with high winds and surf. Winds gusting to 120 mph caused extensive shoreline damage. Winds at Honolulu gusted to 81 mph. Damage totaled 150 million dollars on Kauai, and fifty million dollars on Oahu. The peak storm surge on the south shore was six to eight feet. It marked the first time in 25 years that Hawaii had been affected by a hurricane. (The Weather Channel)