Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Thursday, December 15, 2016
2017 North Carolina Coastal Conference
2017 North Carolina Coastal Conference
April 4 - 5, 2017
McKimmon Center
Raleigh, NC
North Carolina Sea Grant will host North Carolina’s Coastal Conference, April 4 - 5, 2017, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The 2017 Coastal Conference will energize partnerships to develop solutions that can benefit the state’s coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems.
“Many communities from central North Carolina to the coast found their resilience tested in 2016,” notes Susan White, executive director of North Carolina Sea Grant and the Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina system. “They continue to need information and resources to respond to, recover from and anticipate both urgent and long-term coastal challenges.”
Coastal Conference sessions will include:
weather, storms and climate;
community and ecosystem health;
fisheries and aquaculture; and
planning and economics.
Experts from the fields of economics, transportation, energy, environment, industry, and health will lead interdisciplinary sessions designed to bring together diverse perspectives.
The program includes a networking reception on April 4 at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences’ Nature Research Center in Raleigh.
Registration and other details are available at ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/nc-coastal-conference.
source: North Carolina Sea Grant
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
2016 Ocean Literacy Summit
Registration is now open for the 2016 Ocean Literacy Summit. Join scientists, informal and formal educators, students, and others at the Ocean Literacy Summit.
This year's Ocean Literacy Summit will take place November 3rd and 4th in Portland, Maine.
The 2016 Ocean Literacy Summit will focus on Ocean Literacy principle #3; The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
Events will include:
The New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC) is a diverse networked collaboration of more than forty institutions from across New England, including aquariums, museums, universities, government entities and science and research centers.
NEOSEC’s mission and collective purpose are to leverage New England’s extraordinary assets, to engage the public in understanding the vital connections between people and the ocean.
For more information, visit: www.neosec.org
source: New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative
This year's Ocean Literacy Summit will take place November 3rd and 4th in Portland, Maine.
The 2016 Ocean Literacy Summit will focus on Ocean Literacy principle #3; The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
Events will include:
- a climate change workshop led by the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI);
- a keynote address by Dr. Andy Pershing, Chief Scientific Officer at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI);
- talks by scientists and educators, in a redesigned format that will enable participants to hear all presentations;
- an interactive Science an Education Fair to highlight hands-on activities and interpretive ideas on teaching ocean literacy;
- a panel on effective messaging, creative tools, tips and marketing;
- and numerous networking opportunities.
The New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC) is a diverse networked collaboration of more than forty institutions from across New England, including aquariums, museums, universities, government entities and science and research centers.
NEOSEC’s mission and collective purpose are to leverage New England’s extraordinary assets, to engage the public in understanding the vital connections between people and the ocean.
For more information, visit: www.neosec.org
source: New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative
Friday, September 25, 2015
El Niño and La Niña Pacific Coast Effects
The projected upsurge of severe El Niño and La Niña events will cause an increase in storm events leading to extreme coastal flooding and erosion in populated regions across the Pacific Ocean, according to a multi-agency study published recently in Nature Geoscience.
“This study significantly advances the scientific knowledge of the impacts of El Niño and La Niña,” said Patrick Barnard, USGS coastal geologist and the lead author of the study. “Understanding the effects of severe storms fueled by El Niño or La Niña helps coastal managers prepare communities for the expected erosion and flooding associated with this climate cycle.”
New research data, from 48 beaches across three continents and five countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, suggest the predicted increase will exacerbate coastal erosion irrespective of sea level rise affecting the region.
Researchers from 13 different institutions, including the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of Waikato (New Zealand) analyzed coastal data from across the Pacific Ocean basin from 1979 to 2012.
The published paper, “Coastal vulnerability across the Pacific dominated by El Niño/Southern Oscillation” is available online.
source: U.S. Geological Survey
“This study significantly advances the scientific knowledge of the impacts of El Niño and La Niña,” said Patrick Barnard, USGS coastal geologist and the lead author of the study. “Understanding the effects of severe storms fueled by El Niño or La Niña helps coastal managers prepare communities for the expected erosion and flooding associated with this climate cycle.”
New research data, from 48 beaches across three continents and five countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, suggest the predicted increase will exacerbate coastal erosion irrespective of sea level rise affecting the region.
Researchers from 13 different institutions, including the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of Waikato (New Zealand) analyzed coastal data from across the Pacific Ocean basin from 1979 to 2012.
The published paper, “Coastal vulnerability across the Pacific dominated by El Niño/Southern Oscillation” is available online.
source: U.S. Geological Survey
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Northeast Sea Surface Temperatures at Highest Level in 150 Years
Sea surface temperatures in the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem during 2012 were the highest recorded in 150 years, according to the latest Ecosystem Advisory issued by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).
The high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are the latest in a trend of above average temperature seen during the spring and summer seasons, and part of a pattern of elevated temperatures occurring in the Northwest Atlantic, but not seen elsewhere in the ocean basin over the past century.
The advisory reports on conditions in the second half of 2012.
Sea surface temperature for the Northeast Shelf Ecosystem reached a record high of 14 degrees Celsius (57.2°F) in 2012, exceeding the previous record high in 1951. Average SST has typically been lower than 12.4 C (54.3 F) over the past three decades.
Sea surface temperature in the region is based on both contemporary satellite remote-sensing data and long-term ship-board measurements, with historical SST conditions based on ship-board measurements dating back to 1854. The temperature increase in 2012 was the highest jump in temperature seen in the time series and one of only five times temperature has changed by more than 1 C (1.8 F).
The Northeast Shelf’s warm water thermal habitat was also at a record high level during 2012, while cold water habitat was at a record low level. Early winter mixing of the water column went to extreme depths, which will impact the spring 2013 plankton bloom. Mixing redistributes nutrients and affects stratification of the water column as the bloom develops.
Temperature is also affecting distributions of fish and shellfish on the Northeast Shelf. The advisory provides data on changes in distribution, or shifts in the center of the population, of seven key fishery species over time. The four southern species - black sea bass, summer flounder, longfin squid and butterfish - all showed a northeastward or upshelf shift. American lobster has shifted upshelf over time but at a slower rate than the southern species. Atlantic cod and haddock have shifted downshelf.
The Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) extends from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The NEFSC has monitored this ecosystem with comprehensive sampling programs since1977. Prior to 1977, this ecosystem was monitored by the NEFSC through a series of separate, coordinated programs dating back decades.
Warming conditions on the Northeast Shelf in the spring of 2012 continued into September, with the most consistent warming conditions seen in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank. Temperatures cooled by October and were below average in the Middle Atlantic Bight in November, perhaps due to Superstorm Sandy, but had returned to above average conditions by December.
Ecosystem advisories have been issued twice a year by the NEFSC’s Ecosystem Assessment Program since 2006 as a way to routinely summarize overall conditions in the region. The reports show the effects of changing coastal and ocean temperatures on fisheries from Cape Hatteras to the Canadian border.
The advisories provide a snapshot of the ecosystem for the fishery management councils and also a broad range of stakeholders from fishermen to researchers.
The Spring 2013 Ecosystem Advisory is available online at http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/ecosys/advisory/current/advisory.html
source: NOAA Fisheries
The high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are the latest in a trend of above average temperature seen during the spring and summer seasons, and part of a pattern of elevated temperatures occurring in the Northwest Atlantic, but not seen elsewhere in the ocean basin over the past century.
The advisory reports on conditions in the second half of 2012.
Sea surface temperature for the Northeast Shelf Ecosystem reached a record high of 14 degrees Celsius (57.2°F) in 2012, exceeding the previous record high in 1951. Average SST has typically been lower than 12.4 C (54.3 F) over the past three decades.
Sea surface temperature in the region is based on both contemporary satellite remote-sensing data and long-term ship-board measurements, with historical SST conditions based on ship-board measurements dating back to 1854. The temperature increase in 2012 was the highest jump in temperature seen in the time series and one of only five times temperature has changed by more than 1 C (1.8 F).
The Northeast Shelf’s warm water thermal habitat was also at a record high level during 2012, while cold water habitat was at a record low level. Early winter mixing of the water column went to extreme depths, which will impact the spring 2013 plankton bloom. Mixing redistributes nutrients and affects stratification of the water column as the bloom develops.
Temperature is also affecting distributions of fish and shellfish on the Northeast Shelf. The advisory provides data on changes in distribution, or shifts in the center of the population, of seven key fishery species over time. The four southern species - black sea bass, summer flounder, longfin squid and butterfish - all showed a northeastward or upshelf shift. American lobster has shifted upshelf over time but at a slower rate than the southern species. Atlantic cod and haddock have shifted downshelf.
The Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) extends from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The NEFSC has monitored this ecosystem with comprehensive sampling programs since1977. Prior to 1977, this ecosystem was monitored by the NEFSC through a series of separate, coordinated programs dating back decades.
Warming conditions on the Northeast Shelf in the spring of 2012 continued into September, with the most consistent warming conditions seen in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank. Temperatures cooled by October and were below average in the Middle Atlantic Bight in November, perhaps due to Superstorm Sandy, but had returned to above average conditions by December.
Ecosystem advisories have been issued twice a year by the NEFSC’s Ecosystem Assessment Program since 2006 as a way to routinely summarize overall conditions in the region. The reports show the effects of changing coastal and ocean temperatures on fisheries from Cape Hatteras to the Canadian border.
The advisories provide a snapshot of the ecosystem for the fishery management councils and also a broad range of stakeholders from fishermen to researchers.
The Spring 2013 Ecosystem Advisory is available online at http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/ecosys/advisory/current/advisory.html
source: NOAA Fisheries
Friday, March 22, 2013
2013 Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium
Sea Ice covering the Arctic Ocean melted away to a record low in 2012, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Alaska Sea Grant will convene Responses of Arctic Marine Ecosystems to Climate Change, the 28th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, in Anchorage, Alaska, March 26–29, 2013.
The event will bring scientists from around the world to share their research on how arctic marine ecosystems are responding to climate change.
Symposium topics will include:
* Observed and anticipated environmental changes in the Arctic.
* Lower trophic level productivity of arctic waters in a changing climate.
* Marine fish resources of the Arctic in a changing climate.
* Observed and anticipated responses of arctic birds and marine mammals to environmental changes in the Arctic.
* Effects of changing arctic marine ecosystems on humans.
* Understanding and managing arctic marine ecosystems in a time of change.
A complete description and agenda of the symposium can be found online at www.alaskaseagrant.org
The symposium is organized by Alaska Sea Grant, guided by steering committee members from NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Pew Environment Group, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, North Pacific Research Board, and the Institute of Marine Research in Norway.
source: Alaska Sea Grant
Alaska Sea Grant will convene Responses of Arctic Marine Ecosystems to Climate Change, the 28th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, in Anchorage, Alaska, March 26–29, 2013.
The event will bring scientists from around the world to share their research on how arctic marine ecosystems are responding to climate change.
Symposium topics will include:
* Observed and anticipated environmental changes in the Arctic.
* Lower trophic level productivity of arctic waters in a changing climate.
* Marine fish resources of the Arctic in a changing climate.
* Observed and anticipated responses of arctic birds and marine mammals to environmental changes in the Arctic.
* Effects of changing arctic marine ecosystems on humans.
* Understanding and managing arctic marine ecosystems in a time of change.
A complete description and agenda of the symposium can be found online at www.alaskaseagrant.org
The symposium is organized by Alaska Sea Grant, guided by steering committee members from NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, UAF School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Pew Environment Group, U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, North Pacific Research Board, and the Institute of Marine Research in Norway.
source: Alaska Sea Grant
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Hurricane Sandy Damage in North America
 |
| hurricane sandy photo credit: NASA |
From North Carolina to Massachucetts, residents suffered loss of life, flooding, downed trees, power outages, fires, and other events. Early estimates of storm damage reached billions of dollars.
Along the coast, extensive beach erosion occurred, particularly in the Mid Atlantic. In many areas, fishing piers, marinas, boats, beach houses, and other marine properties were damaged or destroyed.
Some of the worst damage occurred in New Jersey and New York where entire communities were overwashed or flooded. In some areas, the storm ignited fires which destroyed homes and businesses.
The storm's size, ferocity, and timing resulted in a number of nicknames including Frankenstorm and Superstorm Sandy.
Monday, January 24, 2011
2010 Among Warmest Years on Record
The year 2010 ranked as the warmest year on record, together with 2005 and 1998, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Data received by the WMO show no statistically significant difference between global temperatures in 2010, 2005 and 1998.
In 2010, global average temperature was 0.53°C (0.95°F) above the 1961-90 mean. This value is 0.01°C (0.02°F) above the nominal temperature in 2005, and 0.02°C (0.05°F) above 1998. The difference between the three years is less than the margin of uncertainty (± 0.09°C or ± 0.16°F) in comparing the data.
These statistics are based on data sets maintained by the UK Meteorological Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit (HadCRU), the U.S. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Arctic sea-ice cover in December 2010 was the lowest on record, with an average monthly extent of 12 million square kilometres, 1.35 million square kilometres below the 1979-2000 average for December. This follows the third-lowest minimum ice extent recorded in September.
“The 2010 data confirm the Earth’s significant long-term warming trend,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. “The ten warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998.”
source: World Meteorological Organization
In 2010, global average temperature was 0.53°C (0.95°F) above the 1961-90 mean. This value is 0.01°C (0.02°F) above the nominal temperature in 2005, and 0.02°C (0.05°F) above 1998. The difference between the three years is less than the margin of uncertainty (± 0.09°C or ± 0.16°F) in comparing the data.
These statistics are based on data sets maintained by the UK Meteorological Office Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit (HadCRU), the U.S. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Arctic sea-ice cover in December 2010 was the lowest on record, with an average monthly extent of 12 million square kilometres, 1.35 million square kilometres below the 1979-2000 average for December. This follows the third-lowest minimum ice extent recorded in September.
“The 2010 data confirm the Earth’s significant long-term warming trend,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. “The ten warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998.”
source: World Meteorological Organization
Sunday, August 9, 2009
NOAA Asks Mariners to Safeguard Pacific Data Buoys
NOAA’s National Weather Service is asking the marine community to help safeguard its offshore buoys — which provide meteorologists with critical data for weather and tsunami forecasts — following a series of incidents where buoys were damaged or cut from their moorings.
Since November 2008, three weather buoys around the Hawaiian Islands have been damaged, and several tsunami buoys around the Pacific Rim stopped transmitting data after severe weather or commercial ships broke the mooring lines. Two weather buoys suffered serious damage and stopped sending data. A third weather buoy continues to transmit data, but has drifted thousands of miles to the west because of a cut mooring line. NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard have repaired many of the buoys, and the remainder will be serviced as soon as ship schedules permit.
"The damage could put communities at risk from severe weather and has been costly in terms of repairs and lost data," said Jim Weyman, meteorologist-in-charge of the Honolulu Weather Forecast Office and director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. "We ask the fishing, shipping and boating communities to help prevent additional losses which are an avoidable expense for taxpayers."
Data buoys are a vital part of the National Weather Service’s observation systems, providing wind speed and direction, wave height, pressure changes and other key data about marine conditions. Forecasters combine buoy data with information from satellites, radar and weather balloons to issue storm warnings and high surf advisories.
Mariners can help protect these buoys by:
* Never boarding or tying up to a buoy;
* Never fishing around or under a buoy;
* Giving the buoy a wide berth to avoid entangling the mooring or other equipment suspended from the buoy – 500 yards for vessels which are trailing gear and at least 20 yards for all others
Fishermen and other boaters can also help by reporting any of these activities or the sighting of damaged or drifting buoys to the U.S. Coast Guard at 808-535-3333.
NOAA buoys are easy to identify. All are painted bright colors and imprinted with "NOAA" and the station number. Operated and maintained by NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center, the buoys are continually monitored by an automated quality assurance program which immediately notifies technicians when data is lost.
Since November 2008, three weather buoys around the Hawaiian Islands have been damaged, and several tsunami buoys around the Pacific Rim stopped transmitting data after severe weather or commercial ships broke the mooring lines. Two weather buoys suffered serious damage and stopped sending data. A third weather buoy continues to transmit data, but has drifted thousands of miles to the west because of a cut mooring line. NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard have repaired many of the buoys, and the remainder will be serviced as soon as ship schedules permit.
"The damage could put communities at risk from severe weather and has been costly in terms of repairs and lost data," said Jim Weyman, meteorologist-in-charge of the Honolulu Weather Forecast Office and director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. "We ask the fishing, shipping and boating communities to help prevent additional losses which are an avoidable expense for taxpayers."
Data buoys are a vital part of the National Weather Service’s observation systems, providing wind speed and direction, wave height, pressure changes and other key data about marine conditions. Forecasters combine buoy data with information from satellites, radar and weather balloons to issue storm warnings and high surf advisories.
Mariners can help protect these buoys by:
* Never boarding or tying up to a buoy;
* Never fishing around or under a buoy;
* Giving the buoy a wide berth to avoid entangling the mooring or other equipment suspended from the buoy – 500 yards for vessels which are trailing gear and at least 20 yards for all others
Fishermen and other boaters can also help by reporting any of these activities or the sighting of damaged or drifting buoys to the U.S. Coast Guard at 808-535-3333.
NOAA buoys are easy to identify. All are painted bright colors and imprinted with "NOAA" and the station number. Operated and maintained by NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center, the buoys are continually monitored by an automated quality assurance program which immediately notifies technicians when data is lost.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)