“On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, a large solar flare erupted from the Sun. Data from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center suggest that the coronal mass ejection – the blast of plasma from the Sun’s surface -could reach Earth by early Thursday morning (March 8, 2012). This animation shows the output from the WSA-Enlil space weather model for solar winds, developed in partnership with NASA and academia and run operationally by NOAA. The white through yellow and orange plumes indicate the density of the coronal mass ejection plasma as it heads towards Earth (orange is the highest density).” Quoted from the NOAA video release.
“Deep-sea corals can live for hundreds or thousands of years, creating complex communities at ocean depths where the light is dim down to more than 10,000 feet deep.” Quoted from the NOAA website.
“According to NOAA scientists, 2011 was a record-breaking year for climate extremes, as much of the United States faced historic levels of heat, precipitation, flooding and severe weather, while La Niña events at both ends of the year impacted weather patterns at home and around the world.” Quoted from the NOAA press release.
“In 2011, NOAA satellites were critical in the rescues of 207 people from life-threatening situations [...]. The satellites picked up distress signals from emergency beacons carried by downed pilots, shipwrecked boaters and stranded hikers, and relayed the information about their location to first responders on the ground.” Quoted from the NOAA press release.
“This winter, understanding the differences behind National Weather Service’s advisories, watches and warnings could save your life or someone you love by knowing the appropriate action to take.” Quoted from the NOAA article.
NOAA has a website that provides information on all weather and climate-related disasters that have produced damages of over $1 billion in the United States since 1980. Their website has a variety of maps, charts, lists and narratives.
Do you know? Here is a clue… “The “snowflakes” grow as they fall, some reaching several centimeters in diameter. Some flakes fall for weeks before finally reaching the ocean floor.”
“According to the Arctic Report Card, ice mass loss from Greenland in 2011 was about 430 gigatons—enough ice to raise global sea level by just over 1 millimeter.” Quoted from NASA’s Earth Observatory.
* Data for 2011 is available before the end of the calendar year because the melt season is over.
A new satellite to monitor the atmosphere for conditions that could lead to severe weather has been launched. NOAA’s NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite will begin transmitting data in about 90 days with the goal of replacing data from the NOAA-19 satellite.
“In this episode, we talk with NOAA Chief Geodesist Dru Smith to learn how scientists are using measurements of gravity to refine a complex mathematical model of the Earth’s shape known as the geoid. Once the new model is deployed, the hope is that we’ll be able to use GPS receivers to figure out our current elevation in most places across the nation within an accuracy of two centimeters or less.”
“Explorers on NOAA expedition discover chemosynthetic shrimp, tubeworms together for first time at hydrothermal vent, also first live vent tubeworms seen in Atlantic waters.” Quoted from the NOAA news release.
Scientists can now remotely monitor the ocean’s changing chemistry with help from some of the five-foot-tall Argo floats that drift with deep ocean currents and transmit data via satellite back to land.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has an interactive map of the United States that allows you to create historic hurricane track maps for specific locations, time intervals, specific storms and more.
Flooding from Hurricane Irene sliced through State Route 12, the only highway serving northern Hatteras Island cutting off about 2300 residents. NASA’s Earth Observatory has a high resolution aerial image of the damage from NOAA’s Hurricane Irene Project.
“Coastal communities along the U.S. East Coast may be at risk to higher sea levels accompanied by more destructive storm surges in future El Niño years.” Quoted from the NOAA news release.
“According to the 1981-2010 normals to be released by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) on July 1, temperatures across the United States were on average, approximately 0.5 degree F warmer than the 1971-2000 time period.” Quoted from the NOAA news release.
“Worldwide, 2010 was one of the two warmest years on record according to the 2010 State of the Climate report, which NOAA released June 27.” Quoted from the NOAA news release.
This NOAA video explains the basics of tsunamis, what you should know if you live near or visit an area where tsunamis can occur, and how to protect yourself if a tsunami occurs near you.
“They are sometimes seen as threatening funnel clouds descending from stormy skies. Others can be nearly invisible, like a ghostly spiral of wind skimming the sea surface. These eerie columns of rotating air are known as waterspouts — commonly defined as tornadoes over water.” Quoted from the NOAA video transcript.
“This potentially deadly force is the #1 safety threat at beaches – it’s called a rip current. Rip currents are fast, powerful channels of water flowing away from the beach and out past the breaking waves. And before you realize it, you can get dragged out far from the shore.” Quoted from the NOAA video transcript.
“Lightning is a rapid discharge of electrical energy in the atmosphere. Each spark can span over five miles in length, reach temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun and contain 100 million volts of electricity. Lightning strikes are not only dangerous, they can be deadly.” This video will teach you how to stay safe from lightning. Quote from the video transcript.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has posted an article on Spring 2011 U.S. Climate Extremes. It summarizes the unusual tornado, flooding, drought and wildfire problems that have been seen in the United States so far this year.
“The use of nighttime lights visible on earth from space is one of the more innovative ways to measure social and economic activity in countries that have little or no reliable data collection programs.” Quoted from the National Science Foundation press release.
“The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.” Quoted from the NOAA news release.
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article titled: “Fighting Back the Waves” that explores the role of engineered structures that protect important cities around the world. Rising sea levels and underestimated hazards are being recognized as an enormous problem.
“The United States Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Geological Survey, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form an innovative partnership of federal agencies to address America’s growing water resources challenges.” Quoted from the USGS.
This PBS video features Eddie Bernard of NOAA, Gary Griggs of the University of California at Santa Cruz, Rick Wilson of the California Department of Conservation and Bruce Jaffe of USGS. They report on the recent tsunami that struck Japan and relate it to potential events on the US west coast.
“Economies around the world have become increasingly vulnerable to the ever-changing nature of the sun. Solar flares can disrupt power grids, interfere with high-frequency airline and military communications, disrupt Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, interrupt civilian communications, and blanket the Earth’s upper atmosphere with hazardous radiation.” Quoted from the NOAA article.
“The first underwater robotic vehicle — or “glider” — to cross an ocean will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit in the Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.”
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