MASS DISASTER

Ivan generated record breaking monster waves

Data collected using underwater sensors during last years deadly hurricane give new meaning to the term "rogue wave".

The waves were bigger than expected, suggesting theoretical models of waves whipped up by hurricanes may have to be revised.

"Our results suggest that waves in excess of 90 ft are not rogue waves but actually are fairly common during hurricanes," lead author Dr David Wang, told the BBC News website.

... via the BBC.

Project Stormfury revisited

Peter Cordani’s company – Dyn-o-Mat, sounds to me like a Jurassic Park themed laundry operation. But it’s not. He wants to sell the government millions of pounds of the environtmental absorbent Dyn-o-gel to drop into the eye of hurrincanes in order to dampen their impact. Tests have already been done and the outcomes were less than… Dyn-o-mite. He sounds determined though despite the setbacks…

Cordani’s fighting to change that. "Florida got hit with billions in property damages last year," he said. "What’s it going to mean to the government to spend $100 million on research to fight that damage next time around?"

But the National Weather Service isn’t impressed with Dyn-O-Mat’s claims. Neither was the National Hurricane Center, which determined it would require nearly 400 planes with 100-ton payloads to harness the power of a hurricane.

Anyone who does come up with a viable technique to mitigate the destructive impact of hurrincanes deserves to make billions. But it’s effectiveness will have to be provable.

… via WLTX.com.

NASA debuts hurricane resource website

Press Release:

Today, NASA launched an Internet resource page highlighting the agency's diverse hurricane research. The site opens just in time for the 2005 Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 through November 30.

The Web page is a compilation of data from various satellites and computer models, and it explains why and how NASA investigates hurricanes. It also covers the relationship of NASA's research focus as compared to other agencies' operational emphasis.

The site provides access to data about active hurricanes and famous past storms. Users can search by hurricane topic, such as how storms are formed; how they are measured; and how they affect land or ocean life. The multimedia section of the site features animation, satellite, video, and still images of hurricanes.

... site is here.

Folly or not, theories aim to reduce storms

What if you could control (or at the least modify) in a predictable way the paths of hurricanes? What if...

Though it's difficult to imagine anyone crazy enough to try to modify the impact of a nuclear blast, scores of dreamers, and at one time the federal government, have sought to weaken hurricanes or steer them away from populated areas. It will surprise few that these proposals, including cloud seeding and, yes, even nuking a storm, have been fruitless, some even folly.

... via the Houston Chronicle.com.

ABC of conflict and disasters

Anthony D Redmond pens an informative article detailing natural disasters from a medical/rescue standpoint. Read and be prepared.

Concerning the rescue timeline after earthquakes he writes...

Most successful rescues take place within the first 24 hours. Most lives are saved by the immediate actions of survivors. Local authorities implement the second phase, when a more coordinated response is established with local rescue teams joining the survivors. In the third phase more intensive and focused efforts are supplemented with extra help from other areas. The fourth and final phase involves the provision of specialist aid for rescuing people deeply entrapped.

... via British Medical Journal.com.

USA: Five major hurricanes could hit Atlantic

All the chips are in place for another damaging hurricane season on the East coast and Gulf regions. Last years storms inflicted $20 billion in property damage and this years may prove to be just as destructive.

The NOAA also announces the hurricane season, which runs from June through November, will have 12 to 15 named storms, including seven to nine hurricanes.

The above-average season is expected to be part of a trend that reached a peak last year and began in 1995.

"We are seeing the same types of climactic conditions setting up for this year, and expect that cycle to continue," said NOAA Administrator Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher Jr. USN (Ret).

... via CTV.ca