WEEKLY OCEAN NEWS

14-18 August 2017

DataStreme Ocean will return for Fall 2017 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 21 August 2017. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

Item of Interest:

Worldwide GLOBE at Night 2017 Campaign commences -- The eighth in a series of GLOBE at Night citizen-science campaigns for 2017 will commence this Monday (14 August) and continue through Wednesday, 23 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 a constellation (Hercules in the Northern Hemisphere and Sagittarius in the Southern Hemisphere) with the seven magnitude/star charts of progressively fainter stars. Activity guides are also available. The GLOBE at night program is intended to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution. The next series in the 2017 campaign is scheduled for 12-21 September 2017. [GLOBE at Night]
State of the Climate in 2016 report indicates record warm year -- During this past week NOAA scientists and their colleagues released a 298-page report entitled State of the Climate in 2016. This peer-reviewed study, compiled by more than 450 scientists from 60 countries, was based upon their examination of trends in temperature and precipitation, extreme weather and climate events, increases in greenhouse gas concentrations and changes in the polar sea ice around the world in 2016.
The report contained the following key points:

The atmospheric concentrations of the major greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) were the highest on record.
The global surface temperature for 2016 was the highest on record and marked the third consecutive year for a record high. This record high temperature was aided by a strong El Niño early in the year.
The globally averaged lower tropospheric temperature was the highest on record.
The globally averaged sea surface temperature for the year was the highest on record.
The global upper ocean heat content in the top 700 meters of the ocean was slightly less than the record high set in 2015.
The global sea level for the year was the highest on record, marking the sixth consecutive year of an increase of global sea level.
Extremes were observed in the water cycle and in the variability of precipitation around the globe.
The Arctic continued to warm and the Arctic sea ice extent remained low.
The waters around Antarctic experienced record low sea ice extent.
Global ice and snow cover declined during 2016.
The number of tropical cyclones across all ocean basins in 2016 was well above average overall.

The study, which represents the 27th annual report by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, is available publicly and is published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. [NOAA NCEI News]

Collecting global sea level data from space reaches 25 years -- The 25th anniversary of the launch of the NASA/CNES Topex-Poseidon satellite was celebrated last week. This first major oceanographic research satellite, which was a joint venture between NASA and France's space agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), measured ocean surface topography to an accuracy of 4.2 cm from 1992 to 2006. Three successors, named Jason 1 (2001-2013), Jason 2 (2008-current) and Jason 3 (2016-current), have continuously mapped global ocean currents and tides through the present time. Data from these satellites have been used to create a 25-year time series of the changes in global sea level and to monitor El Niño and La Niña events. [NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Feature]
Count down to the "Great North American Eclipse" -- The "Great North American Eclipse" is set to occur at the start of next week (21 August 2017), when the moon will pass in front of the Sun and create a total solar eclipse that will travel across the North American continent from Oregon on the Pacific Coast to South Carolina on the Atlantic Coast.

NASA is funding several science teams to conduct scientific experiments during the solar eclipse. Eleven ground-based science investigations will be conducted across the nation, with three looking at the response of the ionosphere (the ionized layer of the Earth's atmosphere at altitudes between 50 and 400 miles above the surface). [NASA Goddard Space Flight Center]
NASA and the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Program are encouraging the public to make observations of the atmosphere on the day of the total solar eclipse as the eclipse path passes from west to east across the nation. The public is invited to make observations of the clouds (type and amount of cover) and air temperature and then post their results using a special GLOBE Observer app. [Globe Observer]

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

The National Weather Service has an informative webpage entitled "2017 Total Solar Eclipse" http://www.weather.gov/source/crh/eclipse.html that contains an interactive map allowing the user to obtain up to seven-day weather forecasts along the eclipse path (beginning on 15 August).
Follow the recommended eclipse viewing safety rules provided on the NOAA and NASA websites to protect your eyes from potential damage. EJH

Ocean in the News:

Eye on the tropics --- During the last week tropical cyclones were reported in the North Atlantic basin, along with both the eastern and western sections of the North Pacific Ocean:

In the North Atlantic Basin, Tropical Storm Franklin formed late Sunday evening in the northwestern Caribbean, approximately 100 miles off the Nicaragua-Honduras border. On Monday, Franklin traveled to the northwest and west-northwest across the northwestern Caribbean toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula before making landfall along the coast near Pulticub, Mexico late Monday night. On Tuesday, Franklin continued its travels to the west-northwest across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, emerging over the waters of the Bay of Campeche approximately 40 miles to the northwest of Campeche, Mexico on Tuesday evening. Moving out across the Bay of Campeche and the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, Tropical Storm Franklin intensified to become the North Atlantic basin's first hurricane of 2017 by late Wednesday afternoon as maximum sustained near-surface winds exceeded 75 mph. At that time, Hurricane Franklin was approximately 105 miles to the northeast of Veracruz, Mexico. Early Thursday morning the central eye of Franklin made landfall along the coast of Mexico's state of Veracruz as a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Traveling inland, Franklin weakened rapidly to a tropical storm and then to a remnant low as it encountered the mountainous terrain of eastern Mexico. Torrential rains and strong winds accompanied Franklin as it moved onshore. Consult the NASA Hurricane Page for satellite images and additional information on Hurricane Franklin.
Tropical Depression 8 (TD-8) formed late Saturday night over the waters of the western North Atlantic approximately 260 miles to the northeast of the southeastern Bahama Islands. On Sunday TD-8 traveled toward the north-northwest and began to organize. As of late Sunday afternoon, this depression had become Tropical Storm Gert, the seventh named tropical cyclone of 2017 in the North Atlantic basin. At that time, Tropical Storm Gert was moving to the north-northwest as it was located approximately 500 miles to the west-southwest of Bermuda. Gert was forecast to continue strengthening on Monday and Tuesday as it would gradually curve toward the north and then to the northeast-northeast.
In the eastern North Pacific basin, Tropical Storm Jova formed off the western coast of Mexico last Friday evening from what appeared to be the remnants of the North Atlantic's former Hurricane Franklin. Although the mountains in Mexico to the east of Mexico City had disrupted the near-surface circulation of former Hurricane Franklin as it moved onshore, a rotating circulation feature in the mid-troposphere (approximately 18,000 feet altitude) accompanied by residual moisture continued to travel westward across the mountains of Mexico and reach the eastern North Pacific. The system reformed as Tropical Storm Jova, the tenth named tropical cyclone of 2017 in the eastern Pacific. At that time, Jova was approximately 250 miles to the south of Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. Passing approximately 90 miles to the north of Mexico's Socorro Island on Saturday, Tropical Storm Jova headed generally westward and weakened to a tropical depression by Saturday afternoon. As of Sunday afternoon, Tropical Depression Jova was located approximately 580 miles to the west-northwest of Socorro Island. This tropical depression was expected to become a remnant low by late Sunday evening and then dissipate early in the week.
In the western North Pacific basin, the fourteen-tropical cyclone, identified as Tropical Depression 14W (TD-14W) formed late last week near Wake Island. This depression rapidly strengthened to become Typhoon Banyan over the weekend. As of late Sunday (local time), Banyan, a category 2 typhoon (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale), was located approximately 250 miles to the northwest of Wake Island. Current forecasts indicate that Banyan should slowly curve toward the north-northwest and then to the northeast over the first half of this week, taking a projected track that will be well away from any large islands in the western North Pacific. The NASA Hurricane Page has additional information on TD-14W, which became Typhoon Banyan.

Updated 2017 NOAA Atlantic hurricane outlook is released -- Forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) issued their updated Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook for 2017, which increased the number of predicted named tropical cyclones for the North Atlantic Basin (including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico) from their initial seasonal outlook that they made in May. Specifically, they are now predicting a 60-percent chance of 14–19 named tropical cyclones (hurricanes and tropical storms with sustained surface winds of at least 39 mph), as compared with their earlier outlook of a 45-percent chance of 11 to 17 named systems. They also currently envision between five and nine hurricanes (with maximum sustained surface winds of 74 mph or higher) along with two to five major hurricanes (Category 3 hurricanes or greater on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale with winds of at least 111 mph), which represent slight increases in their earlier forecasts of two to four major hurricanes, while maintaining their earlier outlooks for five to nine hurricanes. At the same time, the CPC forecasters lowered the chances of a below-average season to 10 percent from the earlier 20 percent. These new projections indicate their expectation of a high probability of an above-average hurricane season, as long-term statistics show that an average Atlantic season consists of 12 named tropical cyclones and the six hurricanes that normally form during each year. Three of these hurricanes typically become major hurricanes.
The CPC forecasters claim that the increased likelihood of above average tropical cyclone activity across the Atlantic basin is due to several factors that include more favorable atmospheric conditions along with the marked reduction in the chances for the development of an El Niño event during the next several months during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. In addition, sea surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic Ocean are also higher. As of the early August, the Atlantic basin has had five tropical storms (Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily) and one hurricane (Franklin) during 2017. in the North Atlantic basin (that includes the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico). [NOAA News]
An updated Atlantic hurricane forecast was issued by Dr. Philip Klotzbach and associates at Colorado State University one week ago in which they predicted a total of 16 named tropical cyclones for the entire 2017 season, including eight hurricanes. The forecasters also anticipated three major hurricanes and an above-average probability of at least one major hurricane landfall along the coasts of the continental United States and the islands in the Caribbean. [The Tropical Meteorology Project]
$5.8 million in grants awarded for endangered and threatened marine species recovery -- During the last week NOAA Fisheries announced that it has awarded $5.8 million in grants to states and tribal nations in regions along all of the nation's coasts to help in the recovery of endangered and threatened marine species. These grants for 2017 include $1,1 million for six new grants in four states and one tribe, with the remaining $4.7 million to be used for 22 continuing projects in 20 states and 2 tribes. [NOAA Fisheries] In addition, NOAA Fisheries has also issued a call for proposals for the calendar year of 2018 under the Species Recovery Grants Program, authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. Applications are due by the end of October 2017. [NOAA News]
Earliest traverse of the Northwest Passage in the Arctic made in July by an ice breaker -- During the month of July 2017, the Finnish Ice Breaker MSV Nordica set a new record for the earliest transit time through the Arctic Northwest Passage, as it cut a path from Alaska to Greenland through the fabled passage across northern Canada over a period of just 24 days this summer. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Unmanned sailing drones navigate the Bering Strait -- Two remotely piloted and unmanned sailing vessels called Saildrones recently sailed through the rough waters of the Bering Strait as part of a study being undertaken by NOAA scientists to study how the Arctic Ocean is absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. [NOAA Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research News]
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is highlighted -- NOAA's National Ocean Service recently featured the agency's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in the waters off the nation's 50th State. Descriptions of the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count project and additional tourism information are provided. [NOAA National Ocean Service News]
Nine dangers that are found along the beach are identified -- With several more weeks of summer remaining that could involve visits to the nation's ocean beaches, NOAA's National Ocean Service has provided a list of nine dangers that could be found on the beach, along with recommended safety tips to counter these hazards. These nine dangers include rip currents; shorebreak; lightning; jellyfish; heat and sunburn; harmful algae blooms; water quality; marine debris and sharks. [NOAA National Ocean Service]
"Hot spots" of sea level rise found along the Southeast Coast -- University of Florida researchers recently have found that "hot spots" for rapid sea level rise off the Southeast Coast of the US are associated with two large-scale atmospheric patterns, El Niño and the Northern Oscillation (NAO) combining to cause sea water to pile up and inundate coastal areas over recent years. Sea levels in these hot spots have risen at a rate approximately six times greater than the global average between 2011 and 2015. Researchers warn that while the hot spots may move and cause flooding in the area to slow temporarily, communities on the coast must still prepare for longer-term sea level rise. [University of Florida 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]

Historical Events:

15 August 1281...The Divine Wind, the Kamikaze, struck down the Chinese fleet attempting an invasion of Japan at Kyushu. This wind was likely due to a typhoon crossing the Sea of Japan. (The Weather Doctor)
15 August 1914...The Panama Canal was officially opened to traffic as the American ship SS Ancon completed its first transit of the canal, sailing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. (Wikipedia)
15 August 1934...After a series of earlier dives since June 1930, each progressively deeper, American zoologist William Beebe and Otis Barton made their pioneering, record-breaking ocean descent of 3028 feet in a bathysphere designed by Barton, withstanding over 1360 pounds of pressure. (Today in Science History)
15 August 1971...Hurricane Beth soaked Nova Scotia with up to 12 inches of rain. The deluge caused considerable crop damage and swamped highways and bridges, temporarily isolating communities on the eastern mainland of Nova Scotia. (The Weather Doctor)
15 August 1983...Hurricane Alicia formed on this day and was the costliest tropical cyclone in the Atlantic since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. It struck Galveston and Houston, Texas directly, causing $2.6 billion (1983 USD) in damage and killing 21 people. This is the worst Texas hurricane since Hurricane Carla in 1961. In addition, Alicia was the first billion-dollar tropical cyclone in Texas history. (National Weather Service files)
16 August 1858...U.S. President James Buchanan inaugurated the new transatlantic telegraph cable by exchanging greetings with Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. However, a weak signal would force a shutdown of the service in a few weeks. (Wikipedia)
16 August 1992...One of the most destructive United States hurricanes of record started modestly as a tropical wave that emerged from the west coast of Africa on 14 August. The wave spawned a tropical depression on 16 August, which became Tropical Storm Andrew the next day. (National Weather Service files)
17 August 1899...Hurricane San Ciriaco set many records on its path. Killing nearly 3,500 people in Puerto Rico, it was the deadliest hurricane to hit the island and the strongest at the time, until 30 years later when the island was hit by the Hurricane San Felipe Segundo, a Category 5 hurricane, in 1928. It was also the tenth deadliest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. San Ciriaco is also the longest lasting Atlantic hurricane in recorded history, lasting for 28 days. On 17 August, the hurricane turned back to the northwest and made landfall near Hatteras, North Carolina on the following day. San Ciriaco remains the strongest hurricane to make landfall on the Outer Banks since 1899. (National Weather Service files)
17 August 1915...A hurricane hit Galveston, TX with wind gusts to 120 mph and a twelve-foot storm surge which inundated the city. The storm claimed 275 lives, including forty-two on Galveston Island, with most deaths due to drowning. Of 250 homes built outside the seawall (which was constructed after the catastrophic hurricane of 1900), just ten percent were left standing. (The Weather Channel)
17 August 1969...Camille, a Category 5 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) and the second worst hurricane in U.S. history, smashed into the Mississippi coast, making landfall at Pass Christian, MS with sustained winds of 190 mph and gusts well over 200 mph. The hurricane produced winds to 200 mph, and a storm surge of 24.6 feet. Winds gusted to 172 mph at Main Pass Block, LA, and to 190 mph near Bay Saint Louis, MS. The hurricane claimed 256 lives, and caused 1.3 billion dollars damage. Several ocean-going ships were carried over seven miles inland by the hurricane. Complete destruction occurred in some coastal areas near the eye of the hurricane. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
18 August 1904...The Belle Isle Aquarium opened in Detroit, MI. This facility is the oldest, continuously running aquarium in America. Several other institutions opened earlier but since have closed or moved to multiple different buildings. Belle Isle Aquarium is still in its original building and site as the one in which it opened. (Today in Science History)
18 August 1983...Hurricane Alicia (a category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) ravaged southeastern Texas. The hurricane caused more than three billion dollars property damage, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in the history of the U.S. Just thirteen persons were killed, but 1800 others were injured. The hurricane packed winds to 130 mph as it crossed Galveston Island, created a storm surge of 12 feet and spawned twenty-two tornadoes in less than 24 hours as it made landfall. (The Weather Channel) (Storm Data) (Intellicast)
19 August 1559...First recorded U.S. hurricane drove five Spanish ships ashore in Pensacola Harbor along the Florida coast. (Intellicast)
19 August 1788...A small but powerful hurricane inflicted great havoc upon forests along a narrow track from Delaware Bay northeastward across New Jersey along the coast to Maine. A similar storm track today would cause extreme disaster in the now populated area. (David Ludlum)
19 August 1896...The famous Cottage City (Oak Bluffs) waterspout occurred over the waters off Martha's Vineyard, MA. The vortex was 3,600 feet high, formed three times, and was well photographed. (National Weather Service files)
19-20 August 1969...'Never say die' Camille, an exceptionally strong hurricane that had weakened to a tropical depression as it drifted slowly across the mid-Atlantic states, let loose a cloudburst in Virginia resulting in flash floods and landslides that killed 151 persons and caused 140 million dollars damage. Massies Hill in Nelson County, Virginia received an estimated 27 inches of rain in 24 hours. This amount is an unofficial record for the state, while the official 24-hour maximum precipitation record is 14.28 inches at Williamsburg on 16 September 1999. It was said to rain so hard that birds drowned while perched on tree branches. The James and York River basins in Virginia were especially hard hit. (Intellicast) (David Ludlum) (NCDC) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
19 August 1991...Hurricane Bob slammed into New England with 90 mph sustained winds and gusts of 125 mph (at Block Island, RI) and 105 mph (at Newport, RI). It made landfall first at Newport, RI and then final US landfall as a tropical storm at Rockland, ME. A storm surge of 15 feet occurred in Upper Buzzards Bay. Portland, ME had a 24-hour record rainfall of 7.83 inches. Total damage exceeded $1.5 billion dollars and 17 people were killed. This was the worst Hurricane in the Northeast since Donna in 1960. (Intellicast) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
20 August 1886...The town of Indianola, TX was completely destroyed by a hurricane, and never rebuilt. It was the fifth hurricane of the 1886 Atlantic hurricane season and one of the most intense hurricanes ever to hit the United States. (David Ludlum) (National Weather Service files)