oceanlove

  New ocean observing technologies to advance vital Tsunami Warning Systems More than 700 million people on our planet are exposed to tsunamis, but new technological advancements and international cooperation efforts will make future tsunami warnings more timely, accurate and accessible to all those at risk. In 2004, when the Indian Ocean Tsunami hit 14 countries and killed more than 230,000 people, there was no tsunami warning system present in the Indian Ocean - nor in many other regions. “In fact, apart from the Pacific, there was almost no exchange of real-time data that is needed for tsunami warnings, and no deep-ocean monitoring systems in place,” says Denis Chang Seng, programme specialist for the Tsunami Resilience Section at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO). Fast forwarding to 2023, the progress of tsunami warning systems has been tremendous. “Today, there are regional Tsunami Warning Systems in each of the four major ocean basins, with...

Yesterday, NOAA’s GOES West satellite captured this visible (band 2) imagery of Hurricane Dora as it strengthened into a Category 4 storm over the eastern Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the satellite’s Geostationary Lightning Mapper, we can also see lightning flashes within the system.  hurricane Dora #GOESWest #GOES18 #Satellite #Satellites #Imagery #SatelliteImagery #Hurricane #Dora #HurricaneDora #Storm #Clouds #Lightning #Weather

  Is climate change accelerating and is it worse than we expected?   16 August 2023,  By Michael Le Page With temperature records tumbling, it is only natural to worry about cascading tipping points, but the reality is far more nuanced     Unprecedented bouts of extreme weather and related events around the world raise the question of whether climate scientists have underestimated how fast the world is warming and how severe the consequences will be. Here are the key facts you need to know.   Is the world warming faster than we expected? What made July 2023 the hottest month ever recorded? Extreme weather and temperatures made July 2023 a shocking month, with human-driven global warming, the El Niño climate pattern and perhaps even a 2022 volcanic eruption contributing to the broken records   Data source: ERA5. Credit: Copernicus Climate Change Service/ECMWF July 2023 was the hottest month on record, the European Centre for Medium-Range...

Hawaii wildfires burn historic town of Lahaina 'to the ground’   By Nadine Yousif BBC News Raging wildfires fanned by hurricane winds have devastated the historic town of Lahaina on Hawaii's island of Maui.   Officials say it is still difficult to determine the true extent of the damage in Lahaina Brian Schatz, a US senator from the state, said on social media that Lahaina is "almost totally burnt to the ground".   At least six people were killed in Maui County, officials said on Wednesday.   Maui's hospital system has been overwhelmed with burn patients and people suffering from smoke inhalation.   "Firefighters are still trying to get the fires under control, and our first responders are in search and rescue mode," Mr Schatz said.   There were reports early on Wednesday that some people jumped into the ocean to escape the fast-moving flames. The US Coast Guard said it rescued at least a dozen people from the water.   Watch: Vide...