Research on hurricanes and tropical storms. Covers AI storm tracking, wind-damage assessment, warning systems, and Hurricane Hunter data.
Historical Hawaiian-language newspapers have been digitized, revealing new information about the 1871 hurricane's impact on Hawaii. The translations uncovered a timeline of the storm's progression and descriptions of widespread destruction.
A Penn State demographer warns that Hurricane Maria's destruction may have crippled Puerto Rico's ability to gather and analyze accurate data, hindering the island's recovery and response to future emergencies. The lack of proper data collection services and analysis may lead to inadequate allocation of resources, including money and aid.
Super Typhoon Jelawat has developed an eye as it strengthens into a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph. The NASA satellite captured a stunning image of the storm on March 30, revealing its 6-mile-wide eye surrounded by strong convective storms.
Researchers assess whether extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey impact invasive pests, pollinators and other species. The team evaluates changes in ant communities to determine if floods accelerated the invasion process by invasive fire ants and tawny crazy ants.
Tropical Cyclone Nora strengthened into a hurricane as observed by NASA satellite imagery, with an eye forming and powerful thunderstorms wrapping around it. The cyclone is forecast to continue intensifying and making landfall in southwestern Queensland on March 27.
Tropical Cyclone Marcus, a Category 4 hurricane, was monitored by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite. The storm's weakening was attributed to warming cloud top temperatures and increasing vertical wind shear.
Tropical Cyclone Marcus has intensified into a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds reaching 149.6 mph, according to NASA's Terra satellite analysis. The system continues to strengthen due to favorable environmental conditions, including low vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Cyclone Marcus is strengthening as it moves away from Western Australia, fueled by strong thunderstorms indicated by cloud top temperatures of -80°F (or colder). The eye of the storm is 11 nautical miles wide and moving westward at 17.2 mph.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) will use the grant to develop a technology-supported program that integrates care across its clinics. The program aims to expand screening, triage, referral, and behavioral healthcare services for patients with unmet post-Harvey needs.
Women living in US territories receive less comprehensive breast cancer care compared to their continental US counterparts, including delayed surgical treatments and radiation therapy. The study highlights the importance of addressing healthcare disparities in these underserved populations.
Researchers will use Azure and AI tools to analyze Hurricane Maria's impact on El Yunque National Forest. The 28,000-acre forest was severely damaged, with thousands of trees felled.
The passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria over Puerto Rico temporarily disrupted the acoustic activity of snapping shrimp, reducing their calls, while increasing fish choruses. The storms also had lasting effects on insect sounds in dry forests, with a marked reduction in sounds after Hurricane Maria.
A team of geophysicists and atmospheric scientists has discovered a new way to identify the movement and intensity of hurricanes, typhoons, and other tropical cyclones using seismometers. By analyzing 13 years of data from the northwest Pacific Ocean, they found statistically significant correlations between seismic data and storms.
Tropical Cyclone Gita remained a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, tracked by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite. The storm showed symmetrical circulation and weakening cloud tops, indicating reduced uplift.
Tropical Cyclone Gita produced over a foot of rain, causing widespread destruction and flooding in Samoa and Tonga. NASA's IMERG analysis revealed heavy rains and strong winds affected both countries, with some structures destroyed including Tonga's historic Parliament House.
Tropical Cyclone Gita, a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind scale, is causing destruction and flooding in Fiji Islands. The storm's eye was located near 21.1 degrees south latitude and 179.1 degrees east longitude, with maximum sustained winds near 126.6 mph.
Heavy rainfall was triggered by Tropical Cyclone Gita, strengthening into a Category 4 hurricane on Feb 12. The storm produced intense rainfall rates of over 64 mm per hour in some areas, with the heaviest falls recorded northeast of Samoa at 224 mm per hour.
A study published in PLOS One compared pre- and post-Hurricane Harvey pollution levels in Houston's Manchester neighborhood, finding that flooding redistributed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Baseline data is crucial for understanding disaster-related public health issues.
Researchers develop risk assessment framework to incorporate three common failure modes into a comprehensive strategy. The analysis finds that any risk assessment must consider all pertinent failure modes of a structure.
Tropical Cyclone Cebile maintained its status as a major hurricane with sustained winds of 126.6 mph and an estimated eye visible through NASA's MODIS instrument. The storm is expected to weaken and turn southeast under adverse conditions.
Tropical Cyclone Cebile was a powerful hurricane in the Southern Indian Ocean when NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of its well-rounded circulation center. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 132 mph, centered near 16.1 degrees south latitude and 76.1 degrees east longitude.
A new study argues that US energy colonialism is a key cause of Puerto Rico's Hurricane María crisis, exacerbated by outdated infrastructure, debt crisis, and industrial contracts. The author calls for decarbonization and community control to address energy justice and sovereignty.
Tropical Cyclone Berguitta formed in the southwestern Indian Ocean on January 12, 2018, and showed intense rainfall rates around its center. The storm's maximum sustained winds were estimated at 115 mph, but later dropped to 65 knots as it moved southwest.
Tropical Cyclone Ava made landfall along northeastern Madagascar's coast, as captured by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite. The eye of the storm was about 10 nautical miles wide and had strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 knots.
Researchers assess hurricane damage to Caribbean coral reefs, finding severe injury and changes in composition. Despite encouraging signs of recovery, scientists note increased vulnerability due to climate change and stressors.
New research shows human-induced climate change increased Hurricane Harvey's rainfall by at least 19 percent and potentially as much as 38 percent. The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, confirms heavy rainfall events are increasing across the Gulf Coast region due to climate change.
Researchers are developing a new method to monitor hurricane intensity using seismic data, analyzing pressure changes on the surface that generate seismic waves. The technique, called beamforming backprojection, can detect even when the storm is still out at sea, offering a remote way to track storms.
Researchers developed a neural network-based model to assess coastal communities' resiliency to hurricanes. The model forecasts storms in terms of impacts, rather than just wind speed, and has been tested during real-time storms, including Hurricane Harvey.
A new MIT study finds that Texas will face a significant increase in the annual risk of extreme rainfall, rising from 1% to 18% by the end of the century. This rise is attributed to climate change, which is expected to shift the odds in terms of high-intensity storms around the world.
Researchers analyzed anonymous Google location data to understand human mobility patterns before and after Hurricane Maria. Travel out of Puerto Rico increased by 20% the day before the storm, with people flocking to cities like Orlando and Miami for shelter.
Post-tropical cyclone Rina has become a large storm in the North Central Atlantic, with sustained winds near 45mph. It is expected to move rapidly northeastward before dissipating over Ireland.
Tropical Storm Rina has taken on a tight comma-cloud appearance, indicating it may be a sub-tropical cyclone. The storm is expected to turn north-northeast and then rapidly northeastward, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.
Researchers argue that central pressure deficit is a better indicator of economic damage from storms in the United States. The study suggests that this metric can be used to calculate peak wind speed, which could improve hurricane predictions.
Tropical Depression Nineteen formed in the Central Atlantic Ocean despite wind shear conditions, according to NASA's Terra satellite imagery. The National Hurricane Center expects it to strengthen and potentially become a tropical storm later on Monday.
Researchers examine how civilians respond during disasters, highlighting the emergence of 'swarming' collective action. They aim to re-think traditional concepts like preparedness and response to marginalize vulnerable populations.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a method to quickly collect building structure datasets from satellite images, supporting emergency response efforts after hurricanes. They also used neutrons to discover the molecular mechanism responsible for flow in a hydrogen-bonding liquid and studied a semiconducting material...
Researchers from the University of Houston are studying the impact of rainwater surging into Galveston Bay, estimating 34 trillion gallons fell along the Texas-Louisiana coast. They will survey the sea bottom and collect sediment samples to understand extreme event sedimentation patterns.
The City College of New York has received a $174,895 NSF RAPID grant to investigate the impacts of post-hurricane land-atmosphere interactions on convective and precipitation processes in the Caribbean region. Researchers will conduct field studies in Puerto Rico to improve their understanding of storm development and intensification.
Post-tropical Cyclone Selma dissipated near the border of El Salvador and Honduras as its maximum sustained winds decreased to near 30 mph. The cyclone's estimated minimum central pressure was 1007 millibars, with weakening continuing until it dissipates over the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Tropical Storm Selma has high potential for heavy rainfall due to very cold cloud top temperatures, posing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. The storm is expected to make landfall in western El Salvador on Saturday night, October 28.
University of Houston researchers are part of a $5.3 million NSF-funded effort to better understand disasters like Hurricane Harvey. Steven Pennings will examine mangrove protection, while Hanadi Rifai will characterize chemical and microbiological contamination in Houston waterways.
A recent study from Florida State University found that Miami-Dade County is not fully equipped to handle pet sheltering during emergencies. The study highlights the need for pet-friendly hurricane evacuation shelters, particularly for older adults who represent 50-75% of disaster deaths.
The USF team uses 3D imaging and photogrammetry techniques to preserve historic sites like Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas. The project aims to document the forts' histories and cultural influences, strengthening management and conservation efforts.
NASA's Suomi NPP satellite provided detailed thermal and precipitation data on Hurricane Ophelia, showing extreme heavy rainfall rates of over 8.4 inches per hour. The hurricane was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone but expected to bring hurricane-force winds to Northern Ireland.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission found Ophelia's heaviest rainfall south of the center, with rain falling at a rate of almost 3.2 inches per hour. The storm strengthened into a hurricane on Oct. 11, with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph and higher gusts.
A new study published in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure predicts that warmer oceans will lead to higher wind speeds and larger storms, resulting in increased damage and financial losses due to hurricanes. The study estimates a 70% increase in hurricane-related financial loss by 2100 for coastal communities in South Carolina.
A UTSA researcher has been awarded a grant to study microbial contaminants in southeast and south central Texas waterways following Hurricane Harvey. The research aims to provide critical information on microbiological water quality, human health risk, and remediation strategies.
Tropical Storm Ophelia was observed as a comma-like shape in NASA's infrared imagery, with cold cloud tops reaching -63°C. The storm is moving eastward at 3 mph and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane within the next 12 hours.
A stepped care approach is more effective in reducing PTSD prevalence than usual care in the aftermath of hurricanes. The study found that stepped care delivered greater reach, treatment effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness than usual care when it came to hurricane-related PTSD.
Tropical Storm Ophelia developed on Oct. 9, strengthening into a tropical storm with strong thunderstorms and an eye-like feature. NASA forecasts gradual strengthening over the next 48 hours, with Ophelia expected to become a hurricane by Thursday.
NASA's Aqua and Suomi NPP satellites analyzed cloud top temperatures in Hurricane Nate, revealing the strongest storms were near the center of the tropical cyclone. Temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit indicate strong thunderstorms capable of heavy rain.
The NASA's Aqua satellite provided valuable temperature data to forecasters, showing the strongest storms were located in Hurricane Nate's eastern side. The storm's cloud top temperatures reached as low as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms capable of heavy rain.
Tropical Storm Nate is forecasted to produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across a wide area of Central America. The storm's center is expected to move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea, reaching the eastern coast of Mexico before moving into the southern Gulf of Mexico.
Researchers found that hurricane-suppressing effects of cooler sea surface temperatures were outweighed by the side effects of slowed ocean circulation in Florida during the Younger Dryas period. Turbidites captured the fury of Florida's stormy days, revealing a surprising level of hurricane activity despite chilly seas.
A University of Utah study found that summary displays and ensemble displays can be misinterpreted by novice viewers, leading to inaccurate risk assessments. The researchers suggest that media reports should provide more context to help the public understand hurricane forecast visualization methods.
Heavy rainfall is expected to occur over a wide area, including locations well away from the center, along the Pacific coast of Central America. The tropical cyclone is forecast to strengthen as it moves over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening coastal areas from Louisiana through the Florida panhandle.
Hurricane Lee is weakening due to wind shear, with forecasters predicting gusty winds in Ireland and the UK over Sept. 30-Oct. 1. NASA satellite imagery shows the storm's disorganization, with wind shear pushing clouds to the south and southeast of the eye.
NASA's Aqua satellite detects coldest cloud top temperatures in thunderstorms south of Hurricane Lee's center, indicating a strong storm with the capability to produce heavy rainfall. The hurricane is expected to continue weakening due to increasing wind shear and cooler waters.
Tropical Storm Maria weakened to a tropical storm on Sept. 28, with NASA monitoring its trajectory. The storm showed signs of strength in infrared light, but its cloud top temperatures indicated a capacity for heavy rainfall.
Hurricane Maria appears asymmetric due to vertical wind shear, with eastern clouds receiving more precipitation than the western side. GPM radar data shows light rain showers around the eye, but stronger storms are located northeast of the center.