WEEKLY WATER NEWS

DataStreme WES Week Four: 26-30 September 2005

Water in the News

(Thurs.) Arctic sea ice disappearing -- The National Snow and Ice Center reports that Arctic sea ice cover has fallen for 4 consecutive years with September 2005 marking a record low total area. At this rate, the Arctic will be ice-free in summer by 2060. [BBC News]
(Thurs.) African lakes in need of degassing -- Lakes Nyos and Monoun are continuing to build up potentially deadly levels of carbon dioxide that may vent to the air and suffocate local villagers as happened in the 1980s. Cheap, simple siphon tubes can alleviate the problem. [BBC News]
(Thurs.) Katrina's toxic runoff modelled for cleanup efforts -- The University of North Carolina has combined with NOAA and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications to model the runoff of the contaminated waters from Katrina's flooding. The contamination information is being provided to workers in the area to aid cleanup. The group is also working on Rita's aftermath. [UNC News]
(Thurs.) A new sewage plant opened in Russia -- In an attempt to reduce the flow of pollutants into the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea, a new waste water treatment plant was recently opened in St. Petersburg, Russia. [ENN]
(Thurs.) A gas pipeline leak blamed for contaminating jungle rivers and causing sickness -- A mayor of a district in Peru's southern Amazon basin is threatening to sue operators of a pipeline transporting liquid natural gas because of a three-hour leak that appears to have spread gas into the regional waterways, killing fish and causing several hundred people to become sick. [ENN]
(Thurs.) Attempts made to save amphibians from extinction -- The Amphibian Conservation Summit was held last week by the Species Survival Commission of the World Conservation Union where more than 60 scientists agreed to an action plan intended to save a variety of amphibian species from extinction because of pollution and habitat destruction. [EurekAlert!]
(Tues.) Typhoon Damrey hits Vietnam -- After leaving 31 dead in China and the Philippines, Typhoon Damrey forced the evacuation of 300,000 in Vietnam before destroying 100 homes and damaging 9000 others. Five million are without power. [USA Today]
(Tues.) NOAA releases aerial damage photos from Rita -- NOAA's Remote Sensing Division released 1100 images of the damage from Hurricane Rita. [NOAA Magazine]
(Tues.) Farming threatened by low aquifer levels -- A recent US Geological Survey study reports that the High Plains Aquifer, a major eight-state underground water supplier appears to being depleted at a faster rate than expected and to it being replenished, which could adversely affect the region's agriculture that depends upon the water. [US Water News Online]
(Tues.) Drought contributes to the plight in Zimbabwe -- Once a regional breadbasket, Zimbabwe is facing its worst agricultural season since its 1980 independence compounded in part by years of extended drought that have left major shortages in food, seed and fertilizer. [US Water News Online]
(Tues.) Polar explorer delivers "ground-truth" data on snow depth -- A Dutch explorer made a recent expedition to the North Pole during which he made snow depth measurements and deployed mobile weather stations that would transmit meteorological data via orbiting satellites. He presented the snow depth data to the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the CryoSat calibration and validation program whereby his careful measurements of snow thickness are compared with similar measurements taken from the ESA CryoSat satellite. [ESA]
(Tues.) Unraveling the reasons for longer and warmer arctic summers -- Several groups of scientists have been studying the recent abnormally warm summers in arctic Alaska, hoping to understand the cause. An ecology professor at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks suggests that a longer snow-free season has contributed more strongly to atmospheric heating through a series of interrelated feedback mechanisms than by changes in vegetation or the retreat of sea ice. [University of Alaska-Fairbanks] Similar findings were also addressed by an environmental sciences professor at the University of Virginia. [University of Virginia]
News on Rita --
- Although Hurricane Rita made landfall in the predawn hours of Saturday morning, heavy rain, gusty winds and isolated tornadoes embedded in the feeder bands of this once major hurricane continued to rake the Texas and Louisiana Gulf coasts and the lower Mississippi Valley for the next 24 hours. While some cities, notably Beaumont, TX and Lake Charles, LA, experienced considerable damage, others such as Houston, TX were not hit as hard as earlier anticipated. [CNN] Fishing villages in Louisiana coast were also ravaged by Hurricane Rita. [CNN] However, some oil refineries in Texas could reopen early next week. [CNN]
- Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research were using an advanced research numerical weather prediction model with higher resolution (2.5 miles between data grid points) than current forecast models to track the intensity and movement of Hurricane Rita. [EurekAlert!]
- A radar unit onboard the European Space Agency's (ESA) Envisat satellite designed to measure the backscatter of the downward broadcast radar signal from the ocean surface to deduce surface wind speeds detected large waves surrounding Hurricane Rita as it intensified upon entry into the Gulf of Mexico. Another radar unit onboard ESA's ERS-2 satellite measured sea surface height and provided NOAA scientists in the US data to chart the "tropical cyclone heat potential" of the system in an attempt to improve forecasting of the track of Rita. [ESA]
- Reporters covering the approach of Hurricane Rita were advised to familiarize themselves with the historic Galveston Hurricane of 1900 in a chapter written by Neil Frank (the former director of the National Hurricane Center) for a book entitled "Hurricane," edited by Robert Simpson (the previous director of the center). [EurekAlert!]
- As Hurricane Rita approached the Texas and Louisiana coasts late last week, state and local officials along with emergency planners were attempting to implement plans that included lessons learned from the experiences of those in southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama when Hurricane Katrina hit last month. [CNN]
More news concerning Hurricane Katrina --
- The last four of the eight trained bottlenose dolphins that were swept from their aquarium in Gulfport, MS by the storm surge of Hurricane Katrina on 29 August were finally rescued by a team that included the NOAA Fisheries Service. [NOAA News]
- By late last Thursday, Louisiana state officials placed the death toll from Hurricane Katrina in their state at 799, causing the overall death toll along the Gulf Coast from that hurricane at 1033. [CNN]
- An environmental engineer from the University of Florida reported that while broken sewers, flooded industrial plants and corpses may be poisoning the flood waters in New Orleans, a significant amount of the contamination also comes from toxins in the metropolitan area that has entered the water as it stagnated. [University of Florida News]
- Aerial photographs reported at a crude oil leak from a flooded refinery in the New Orleans metropolitan area. [US Water News Online]
- Prior to the being subjected to the rain and winds from Hurricane Rita, experts assessing the situation in New Orleans following the receding of flood waters caused by Hurricane Katrina were cautiously optimistic that the Big Easy could be resettled in a few months, although more testing is needed to ensure that the city is safe from contamination. [ENN]
- Researchers with the Hurricane Center at Louisiana State University claim that the mud on buildings and the output from their computer models indicate that the concrete flood walls designed to protect New Orleans failed because of structural flaws during Hurricane Katrina, rather than being overtopped as claimed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. [New Scientist]
Modification of hurricanes still a dream -- A hydrometeorologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research stated that while artificial modification of hurricanes might be a good idea, such efforts have led to little demonstrative success in the past because they have been relatively ineffective at altering the behavior of these tropical systems because of their size and intensity. [USA Today]
Could we have Hurricane Alpha? -- Because of the relatively active 2005 hurricane season in the North Atlantic basin to date, only four names remain on the official international list of tropical storm/hurricane names for this season, even though roughly two more months of possible activity remain. If more than 21 named tropical cyclones form, the naming dilemma would be resolved by continuing the list by using the Greek alphabet, beginning with Alpha, Beta and so forth. [USA Today]
Hurricane formation too close for comfort -- A hurricane expert at the National Hurricane Center noted that several of this year's hurricanes, notably Katrina, Ophelia and Rita, have either formed or rapidly intensified relatively close to Florida, possibly because of the location of more favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions for tropical cyclone development closer to the Florida Peninsula than in other years. While the closeness to the coast, leads to a shorter lead-time for forecasters and emergency planners, it may also keep these hurricanes from strengthening even more. [USA Today]
Global and US Hazards/Climate Extremes -- A review and analysis of the global impacts of various weather-related events, including drought, floods, and storms during the current month. [NCDC]
Global Water News Watch -- Other water news sources can be obtained through the SAHRA Project at the University of Arizona [SAHRA Project]
Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com] Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Concept of the Week: Controlling Indoor Humidity

In public buildings as well as individual homes, it is sometimes desirable to alter extremes of relative humidity so that living spaces are more comfortable. For human comfort, optimum relative humidity is between about 30% and 50%. When indoor air is exceptionally dry, a humidifier may be used to add water vapor to the air, but when indoor air is excessively muggy, a dehumidifier may be used to remove water vapor from the air.

As cold, dry winter air is drawn indoors and heated by a furnace, its relative humidity declines--sometimes to uncomfortably low levels. Suppose, for example, that outdoor air has a temperature of -20 ºC (-5 ºF) and relative humidity of 50%. If that air were brought indoors and heated to 21 ºC (70 ºF), its relative humidity drops to about 2% -- well below the optimal winter indoor relative humidity of 30% to 50%. At such very low relative humidity values, people often feel discomfort caused by dry skin and irritation of the mucus membranes in their nose and throat. Also, wood furniture dries out and may crack and become unjointed. Discharge of static electricity (e.g., after walking across a carpet and touching a metal doorknob) can be a nuisance in dry rooms.

One remedy for excessively low indoor relative humidity is a device known as a humidifier. A humidifier elevates the relative humidity of indoor air to more comfortable levels by evaporating water into the air (increasing the vapor pressure). A common humidifier design consists of a wheel that continually rotates a porous belt (or pads) into and out of a reservoir of water. A fan blows air through the wetted belt, water evaporates into the air stream, and the more humid air circulates through the dwelling.

On the other hand, a dehumidifier may be desirable during warm muggy summer days. In addition to discomfort caused by reduced evaporative cooling, high values of indoor humidity can increase the incidence of mold and mites. A dehumidifier lowers the relative humidity of indoor air to more comfortable levels by inducing condensation of water vapor (decreasing the vapor pressure). In a standard dehumidifier, a fan draws humid air past a cold refrigerated coil. Air in contact with the coil is chilled to saturation, water vapor condenses on the coils and liquid water drips from the coils into a collection reservoir or through a hose into a drain. Most dehumidifiers function best when the air temperature is at or above 18 ºC (65 ºF).

Click on forecast map for locations across the country where today's indoor relative humidity is expected to be too high or too low in the absence of any controls on indoor humidity. For an interactive applet (from the University of Wisconsin-Madison) that explores the relationships between temperature, dewpoint, and relative humidity, go to http://profhorn.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/museum/a7/a7exercise1.html. Follow instructions and note how the indoor relative humidity changes with changes in outdoor conditions.

Concept of the Week: Questions

A humidifier elevates the relative humidity by causing [(evaporation)(condensation)].
A dehumidifier reduces the relative humidity by causing [(evaporation)(condensation)].

Historical Events

28 September 1986...Flash flooding swept a car into a swollen creek from off the Kamehameha Highway on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The driver held onto some branches until help arrived, but the strong current stripped him of his clothes and watch. (Accord Weather Calendar)
28 September 1986...Torrential rains and floods were responsible for South Africa's worst natural disaster in Natal. As much as 35 in. of rain fell between the 25^th and 29^th to the northeast of Empangen, resulting in 317 deaths and 163 people missing. Topsoil from some farms was completely washed away leaving only bedrock. (Accord Weather Calendar)
29 September 1959...Hurricane Gracie made landfall near Beaufort, SC with sustained winds of 97 mph and a peak gust of 138 mph. Ten people were killed in South Carolina and Georgia. As the weakening storm moved through Virginia on the 30th, she spawned an F3 tornado at Ivy, VA, which killed 11 people. On the same day, a storm produced 28 inches of snow at Colorado Springs, CO. (David Ludlum)
29 September 1983...Heavy rains began in central and eastern Arizona that culminated in the worst flooding in that state's history. Eight to ten inch rains across the area caused severe flooding in southeastern Arizona that resulted in thirteen deaths and $178 million in damage. President Reagan declared eight counties of Arizona to be disaster areas. (The Weather Channel)
30 September 1882...The world's first hydroelectric power plant (later known as Appleton Edison Light Company) began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, WI using a 42-inch waterwheel that powered two direct current generators to provide a total of 25 kilowatts of power. (Wikipedia, Energy Quest)
30 September 1932...Tropical cyclone rainfall of 4.38 inches at Tehachapi in southern California over 7 hours caused flash floods on Auga Caliente and Tehachapi Creeks resulting in 15 deaths. (The Weather Doctor)
30 September 1935...The Boulder Dam, renamed the Hoover Dam in 1947, was dedicated at Boulder City, NV. This concrete-arch dam supplied the first U.S. hydroelectric plant to produce a million kilowatts, with much of the power serving the Los Angeles area. (Today in Science)
1 October 1976...Hurricane Liza brought heavy rains and winds to Brazos Santiago, Mexico, causing a dam to break on the Cajoncito River, which killed 630 people as a wall of water crashed into the town of La Paz. (The Weather Doctor)
1 October 1893...The second great hurricane of the 1893 season hit the Mississippi Delta Region drowning more than 1000 persons. (David Ludlum)
1 October 1997... Flash flooding in Nogales, AZ resulted from 2 to 3 inches of rain. One hundred homes and 30 businesses were flooded and five vehicles floated down Western Avenue. (Accord Weather Calendar)
2 October 1867...A hurricane struck Galveston, TX with a storm tide that produced $1 million damage. (Intellicast)
2 October 1882...A major hurricane struck the Louisiana Delta with 100-mph winds and 12-foot storm tide which inundated the bayous resulting in 1500 deaths. (Intellicast)
2 October 1898...A hurricane struck the Weather Bureau (now National Weather Service) hurricane observation post at Carolina Beach, North Carolina and swept away the office's outhouse. The storm became known as the "Privy Hurricane". (Northern Indiana NWSFO)