Hurricane Irene Activities

Photo Image: NASA

August 21, 2011 - Sunday

Tropical Storm Irene's clouds spotted over Puerto Rico with a maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph. She was expected to be a hurricane Monday, August 22. Forecast to weaken after its center moved over Dominican Republic and continued through the eastern Caribbean.

August 22, 2011 - Monday

Irene moved away from Puerto Rico toward the Southeastern Bahamas with maximum sustained winds were near 75 mph (120 kmh) and moved to the west-northwest near 14 mph (22kmh). Its center was about 55 miles (90 km) west-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico near 18.8 North and 66.8 West. Minimum central pressure was 987 millibars. 

August 23, 2011 - Tuesday

8AM EDT, Irene strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane with its center was headed toward the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas.  Her maximum sustained winds were near 100 mph (160 kmh); located near 20.6 North and 70.6 West, about 70 miles south-southeast of Grand Turk Island and moved to the west-northwest near 10 mph (17 kmh). Minimum center pressure is 987 millibars. Various hurricane and tropical storm warning were in effect.

2PM EDT, the center was 55 miles south of Frand Turk Island. The island was in hurricane -force winds as Irene  headed to move west-northwest at 10 mph (17 kmh) with minimum sustained winds near 100 mph (160 kmh).  She was located near 20.7 North and 71.2 West. Minimum central pressure was near 977 millibars.

The National Hurricane Center noted that "Irene could become a major hurricane by Wednesday."

August 24, 2011 - Wednesday

Now became hurricane Category 3 at 8AM EDT as it moved toward the Crooked and Acklins Islands in the Bahamas with maximum sustained winds increased to 115 mph (186 kmh). On this category, a hurricane can cause devastating damage according to the NHC's webpage: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/sshws.shtml.

August 25, 2011 - Thursday

NASA satellite data showed Irene's diameter was about one-third the length of the U.S. Atlantic Coastline. The distance from Augusta, Maine to Miami, Florida was 1662.55 miles. The force-winds extended 255 miles from the center that made Irene 510 miles in diameter.

By 11AM EDT, Irene moved north and was 75 miles (105 km) east-northeast of Nassau near 25.9 North latitude and 76.8 West longitude. Irene's winds dropped slightly and moved to the north-northwest near 13 mph (20 kmh).

At 2:59 AM EDT, Irene was right off the Florida, Georgia and South Carolina costs.

8AM EDT, the hurricane was centered 375 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, near 30.0 North and 77.3 West. Irene moved 0.1 degree to the west in the last 3 hours. Maximum sustained winds were near 110 mph, and Irene is moving north at 14 mph. Minimum central pressure is 945 millibars.

Rainfall is a serious issue with Irene as she is expected to drop 6 to 10 inches with isolated amounts of 15 inches from eastern North Carolina into southeastern Virginia, eastern Maryland, Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southeastern New York, Long Island, Western Connecticut, and western Massachusetts through Monday morning.

August 26, 2011 - Friday

At 2:59 AM EDT, Irene was right off the Florida, Georgia and South Carolina costs.

Hurricane Irene was extending her clouds over the southeastern U.S. Coastal evacuations were made in New York City, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North and South Carolina.

8AM EDT, the hurricane was centered 375 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, near 30.0 North and 77.3 West. Irene moved 0.1 degree to the west in the last 3 hours. Maximum sustained winds were near 110 mph, and Irene is moving north at 14 mph. Minimum central pressure is 945 millibars.

Still in Category 2 and remained in that intensity at 3:10 PM EDT.

1:40 PM EDT, the wide cloud of Irene stretched over a third of the U.S. east coast.

2 PM EDT, Arrived along the coast of the Carolinas with its center found about 300 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, near 31.2 North and 77.5 West with Its maximum sustained winds were near 100 mph and was moving to the north near 14 mph. Minimum central pressure was 951 millibars.
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August 27, 2011 - Saturday

11AM EDT, Irene's tropical storm force winds extended outward 260 miles that made the extent 520 miles in diameter.

Weather Channel Reporters had it that hurricane Irene sustained winds on the beach of Nags Head, NC near 60-65 mph as Irene continued battering eastern North Carolina and tropical storm conditions were spreading into the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia coast while at the same time gave its first brief moderate rainfall to the Washington, DC area.

In Virginia Beach, VA, two tornadoes had been reported by the Weather Channel and warning was in effect.

With a maximum of sustained winds near 85 mph, Irene moved toward north-northeast near 15 mph. A wind gust to 87 mph was reported at Cape Hatteras, NC while further Northfolk Naval Air Station reported a wind gust to 63 mph.

August 28, 2011 - Sunday

9AM EDT, Hurricane Irene made a second landfall near Little Egg Inlet, N.J., early Sunday morning. Still at Category 1 with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km per hour). Slightly weakened at 65 mph (100 km per hour) before making its 3rd landfall over Coney Island, N.Y.

The heavy rainfall and storm surge hit New York City's Battery Park with water level near 8.6 feet at 8AM EDT. An additional of 2-6 inches is expected to cause more flooding in New Jersey and New York Regions
because of the  2-5 inches of rain that has fallen in the last 18 hours.

Watches and warnings are in effect in New Jersey and New York through New England. Burlington, V.T.; Albany, N.Y.; New York City and Philadelphia are cities also under threat of flooding. Irene is expected to continue to move inland and head north - northeast on its way to Canada.


Resource: NASA.GOV

Arctic Warming Causes Ice Melting

Due to the rising temperature, climate in the north polar region had become warmer during the past few decades that causes ice to melt in the said region.

Modern science have a lot of ways to find out and monitor what's going on in the Arctic region. We now have satellites that collect data from above that would tell where it is melting and how fast ice is moving towards the ocean. We all know that Greenland is packed with ice but as our planet gets warmer, glaciers are melting. It is even melting faster now than ever before.

The most logical thing to think about is when icebergs calve off a glacier into the ocean, sea level would definitely rise because the melted ice is added to the ocean. Many glaciers are melting quickly.  Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Though there's only a tiny amount of greenhouse gases in Earth's  atmosphere, they have a tremendous effect on climate.

What happens when temperature gets warmer? Not only would glaciers melt but other things would follow. Plants and animals are moving further north to find a suitable habitat for them. And if this continues to happen, many species of each kind could not survive.

Melting ice from different Arctic areas is feared to cause enough flood in low lying cities such as Shanghai, China, New York City, Boston, Halifax and other cities in the northeastern United States and in Canada, according to new research led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Millions of people could be displaced in the process.

An estimate of three feet rise in the sea level is predicted over the next century that could wreak havoc around the world if it comes to pass. Moreover, warmer water temperatures could shift ocean currents. As more ice melts, sea level increases and in turn absorb more of the sun's heat, leading more snow and ice to melt.

 
What Causes the Greenhouse Effect?

Greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone and methane regulates our climate by trapping heat and holding it in a kind of warm-air blanket that surrounds the planet.  This is called the 'greenhouse effect' phenomenon.

How Humans Contribute to the Greenhouse Effect?

Human activities distort and accelerate the natural process by creating more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than necessary.

• Burning natural gas, coal and oil including gasoline increase the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere.
• Deforestation. Trees use carbon dioxide which helps create optimal balance of gases in the atmosphere. Due to deforestation, we have fewer trees to perform this critical function.
• Farming practices increase levels of methane and nitrous gases.
• Factories produce long lasting industrial gases.
• Population growth. People use fossil fuel for heat, transportation among others. As more farming occurs to feed millions of people, more greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere.

To sum it all up, more greenhouse gases would mean more infrared radiation trapped in the atmosphere which gradually increase the temperature of the Earth's surface and the air in the lower atmosphere.

Extreme Climate Change

Whether you agree or not the world is experiencing a vast number of extreme weather events from different parts of the globe in recent years. Each of which seems to be a record breaker of its kind. I don't know how you feel about all these but I would say these events are a big question mark for all of us.

Yale Environment 360 asked A panel of eight leading climate scientists that offer answers to the question, "Is extreme weather change linked to global warming?" Their responses varied, with some agreeing on rising temperatures already are bringing on turbulent weather and others saying that more extreme weather may be likely, however, data available is not enough to make out a trend in that note.

Whether the debate is true or not, here is one thing that is undeniably true - climate change is hitting the homes of the many. The phenomenal events are affecting the lives of millions. Media has been asking questions to the experts but they get the same answers. In a much earlier article in Yale Environment 360, Trenberth says  that scientists are giving the same nonchalant explanation that we can't definitely point a finger solely to the climate change. In finding trends, it is necessary to compare the most extreme events to ordinary extreme events (To read the full article, go to: Yale Environment 360).
 

Tsunami in Japan 2011

Typhoon Ondoy hit the Philippines 2009

Massive Earthquake in New Zealand 2011

Haiti Earthquake 2010

These were but just a few of the unforgettable and most painful results of the said climate change.We are all so helpless when nature hits us big time. One can only pray for mercy and grieve for the losses including loved ones. Is climate change for real? I have come across websites with different views. Some are hard to believe, some can leave a doubt, some with logical explanation and others I find truly scary. Again, I try to keep an open mind to each and every article I read. Here are some of the links I've read. I don't know...I feel that we just have to educate ourselves to be aware and be prepared of I - don't - honestly - know - what.

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Heres proof Global Warming ( Climate Change) is a FRAUD!

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