In a Warming World, Climate Scientists Consider Category 6 Hurricanes

For more than 50 years, the National Hurricane Center has used the Saffir-Simpson Windscale to communicate the risk of property damage; it labels a hurricane on a scale from Category 1 (wind speeds between 74 – 95 mph) to Category 5 (wind speeds of 158 mph or greater). But as increasing ocean temperatures contribute to ever more intense and destructive hurricanes, climate scientists wondered whether the open-ended Category 5 is sufficient to communicate the risk of hurricane damage in a warming climate.

Case Western Reserve University faculty available to discuss Hurricane Idalia, its impact and what to expect in its wake

https://thedaily.case.edu/what-can-we-expect-in-the-wake-of-hurricane-idalia-cwru-faculty-share-their-expertise/?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=thedaily_expertinsights Tali Babila, assistant professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Peter Shulman, the Elizabeth and Raymond Armington Professor and associate professor in the Department of History  Thomas King, professor and chair of the Department of Accountancy …

Experts predict ‘average’ Atlantic hurricane season, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be strong storms

The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season was among the most damaging and deadly in modern history, but that isn’t necessarily an indicator for 2023. According to Virginia Tech meteorologist Stephanie Zick most seasonal forecasts are predicting a near average season, which goes from June 1 to November 30. NOAA’s outlook predicts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, with numbers similar to last year.

Hurricane’s effects killed sturgeon in Apalachicola River

As hurricane Michael churned through the Gulf of Mexico to make landfall near Florida’s Apalachicola River in 2018, it left a sea of destruction in its wake. The path was easy to follow on land, but debris and infrastructure failures also diminished the river’s water quality and led to the death of roughly half the gulf sturgeon population there.

Major storm modeled to follow Fiona, possibly en route to Florida

The strongest hurricane of the Atlantic season caused death and destruction in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the Caribbean and continues to pose a threat along the eastern seaboard. But now models are predicting a storm that…

FSU expert: Third consecutive La Niña could bring more hurricanes

By: Bill Wellock | Published: September 20, 2022 | 8:42 am | SHARE: Meteorologists predict current La Niña conditions will persist this year through a third consecutive winter, a situation that usually brings a more active late hurricane season, followed by a dry and warm fall and winter across Florida.La Niña is the popular name for a phase of what meteorologists call the “El Niño-Southern Oscillation,” or ENSO, a recurring pattern of relatively warmer and cooler surface-water temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

GW Experts Available to Discuss Extreme Weather and Climate Change

WASHINGTON (July 19, 2022) — Much of Europe has been hit by the latest record shattering heat wave. Such sweltering temperatures are part of global trends toward climate-fueled high temperatures that can lead to wildfires and damaging health consequences. The…

Uncrewed Systems are Revolutionizing Hurricane Forecasting

A paper published in the peer review magazine Oceanography shows that robotic ocean observing platforms can improve intensity forecasts for hurricanes and tropical storms and should be supported as a crucial component of the ocean infrastructure designed to protect the lives of coastal residents and mitigate the economic impact from storms.

For hurricane victims, prolonged disruption of utilities, limited preparation lead to longer recovery times

Studying major hurricanes Notre Dame researcher, Sisi Meng, found that the fate of hurricane victims depends on a number of factors including how well-prepared they are, whether they have weathered a hurricane before and how quickly their utility services are restored.

Rutgers to Lead Regional Large-Scale Coastlines and People Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub with Nearly $20M from National Science Foundation

Advancing its mission and leadership role to improve climate risk management critical to societal well-being, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey will lead a multi-university Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH) made possible by a grant through the National Science Foundation’s Coastlines and People (CoPe) Program with expected total funding of $19.9+ million over the next five years.

New Research Analyzes Millions of Twitter Posts During Hurricanes to Understand How People Communicate in a Disaster

In the face of a potentially disastrous storm like Hurricane Ida, people take to Twitter and other social media sites to communicate vital information. New research published in the journal Risk Analysis suggests that monitoring and analyzing this social media “chatter” during a natural disaster could help decision makers learn how to plan for and mitigate the impacts of severe weather events in their communities.

Survey Launched to Learn More about Deaths Tied to Hurricane Maria

Researchers at the George Washington University and the University of Puerto Rico will launch a first-of-its-kind survey to investigate the causes of deaths that occurred during the first two weeks after Hurricane Maria. The fact-finding mission will help identify the factors and socio-environmental conditions that led to more than 1,700 deaths in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

Fallout from hurricanes, wildfires will hit immigrants hard

Hurricane Laura devastated parts of Louisiana and Texas last week with high winds and flooding, as communities in California battle severe wildfires. Federal government programs intended to help communities in the aftermath of disaster face additional challenges this year due…

IU experts available to comment on Hurricane Laura and Storm Surge

Gabriel Filippelli Earth sciences and human health, remediation technology, sediment geochemistry, chemical weathering, nutrient cycling, paleoceanography, terrestrial metal cycling. IUPUI Phone: 317-274-3795 Email: [email protected] Expert Bio Professor Gabriel Filippelli is a biogeochemist, focusing on the flow and cycling of elements and…

Application of machine learning can optimize hurricane track forecast

When a hurricane approaches, providing a few extra hours’ notice can be the difference between life and death. Now, Penn State researchers report that applying a machine learning technique to a group of possible storm paths could help meteorologists provide more accurate medium-term forecasts and issue timely warnings to communities in the path of these potentially deadly storms.

Experts: Prepare for Active 2020 Hurricane Season Amid COVID-19

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2020) – While emergency responders are continuing to focus on the COVID-19 crisis, another threat is looming – a potentially very active and destructive Atlantic hurricane season. Already, Hanna, the first named hurricane of the 2020…

Rensselaer Experts Available To Provide Perspective on Hurricane Season

With hurricane season already underway and projected to be active, communities throughout the U.S. are trying to balance disaster preparation amid an unprecedented public health crisis. While significant attention is rightly being given to COVID-19, leaders – especially those in communities along the coast – must plan for the possibility of dual disasters.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have extensive experience studying and responding to natural disasters and are available during this hurricane season to share their research and perspectives.

Predicting a Hurricane’s Intensity Can Prove Difficult

Many scientists have said that hurricanes are more intense than ever before – Cat. 4 or 5 storms used to be outliers, but today, it seems they are becoming the norm. Why?

That’s the question a research team that includes a scientist from Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography is working to answer – they are looking what contributes to the rapid intensification of storms.

While much of the focus on #Dorian has been on the gale force winds, #stormsurge will play a huge role in the #hurricane’s catastrophic impact, says Prof @KyleMandli. Given Dorian’s current track, a widespread surge is expected from Fl to the Carolin

Kyle Mandli models and simulates storm scenarios to develop strategies to protect against coastal disasters. He is especially focused on the impact of storm surge and sea level rise in a warming climate. An assistant professor of applied mathematics at…

Disaster Mental Health Resources Available Now for Hurricane Response and Recovery

Catastrophic natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cause extreme disruption and can be distressful for individuals, families and communities. Those receiving assistance as well as those involved in disaster management efforts can be affected. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences’ Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress has released 12 new resources to aid in the response and recovery efforts for affected communities.

With #HurricaneDorian’s approach comes the threat of power loss, which can disrupt transportation and put lives at risk. @JohnsHopkins engineer Umesh Korde suggests that harnessing energy from ocean waves can help restore power more quickly.

As Hurricane Dorian threatens to strike Florida, officials are beginning to prepare for its potential impact on electricity, building infrastructure, transportation and more.  Umesh Korde, a research professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at The Johns Hopkins…