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Above-Normal Temperatures and Below-Normal Precipitation in April Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan – experienced their second warmest April on record...Florida had its coolest such period NOAA’s State of the Climate report May 7, 2010 - April 2010 average temperature for the contiguous United States was 54.3 degrees F, which is 2.3 degrees F above the long-term (1901-2000) average (14th warmest April on record). April’s average precipitation was 2.18 inches, 0.25 inch below the 1901-2000 average. Based on a 116-year record since 1895, this monthly analysis prepared by scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides. U.S. Temperature Highlights
The generally warm and dry influence of persistent high-pressure areas brought above-normal temperatures to most states east of the Rocky Mountains. Only three states (California, Nevada and Oregon) had cooler-than-average temperatures in April. Regionally, both the Northeast and the East North Central Region near the Great Lakes, which includes; Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan – experienced their second warmest April on record. The Central climate region, which includes the states of West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri was also saw above-normal temperatures, resulting in the fourth warmest April for that region. Record warmth prevailed in Illinois and the northeast, namely Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey, each of which had its warmest April on record. In total, 31 states had above-normal temperatures. The three-month period (February-April) was the record warmest in six states; Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire each also had their warmest year-to-date (January-April) period on record. Conversely, Florida had its coolest, while South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas’ average temperature ranked among their 10 coolest. The cooler-than-normal temperatures that prevailed during the latter part of the winter season in the south and southeast were still evident in the three-month (February-April) period. Florida had its coolest such period, while Louisiana and Alabama had their sixth coolest, Georgia its seventh coolest and both Mississippi and Texas their eighth coolest February-April. U.S. Precipitation Highlights
April precipitation in most areas east of the Mississippi River was below average. Wetness returned to the West Coast, as the Northwest climate region averaged much-above-normal precipitation. Many Mid-Atlantic states observed much-below-normal precipitation. Both Louisiana and South Carolina experienced their sixth driest April. It was also abnormally dry in Connecticut (eight), North Carolina (ninth), Virginia (ninth) and Maryland (tenth). Conversely, it was Oregon’s tenth-wettest April on record. The dryness in Michigan has persisted throughout 2010, becoming the second driest January-April period on record. The year-to-date period was also the seventh driest for Wisconsin and Kentucky and the eighth driest for Louisiana. Other Highlights According to the Rutgers Snow Lab, a NOAA-supported facility, the North American snow cover extent for the month was the lowest on record for April dating back to 1966. It was also the largest negative anomaly, meaning distance below long term average, on record for any month. NCDC’s Climate Extremes Index (CEI) for January-April was about 6 percent higher than the historical average for that time period. The CEI measures the occurrence of several types of climate extremes (like record or near-record warmth, dry spells, or rainy periods). Factors contributing to this year’s value: a very large footprint (three times larger than average) of extreme wetness and twice the average area with warm minimum temperatures. 195 Tornadoes were reported in April According to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, 195 tornadoes were reported in April. If the preliminary tornado count stands, it would be the eighth highest number of April tornadoes. The most significant tornado of the month, which was rated EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, devastated areas near Yazoo City, Miss. According to a preliminary analysis by the National Weather Service, the tornado’s path was 149 miles long and stretched from extreme northeastern Louisiana to northeastern Mississippi. The damage path was up to 1¾ miles wide at points. The tornado claimed the lives of 10 people. Drought coverage increased slightly during the month to a value near historical norms. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that 9 percent of the United States was affected by drought on April 27. NCDC’s preliminary reports, which assess the current state of the climate, are released soon after the end of each month. These analyses are based on preliminary data, which are subject to revision. Additional quality control is applied to the data when late reports are received several weeks after the end of the month and as increased scientific methods improve NCDC’s processing algorithms. Cumberland River Crest Highest in 73 Years Flooding in Tennessee Rivers throughout middle Tennessee crested at record high levels last week. They exceeded previous highs at many streamgages by as much as 14 feet, according to preliminary estimates released today by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The highest flood levels were recorded on May 2 and 3, from Nashville west toward Jackson, extending about 40-miles north and south of Interstate 40, and affecting major tributaries to the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. The flood peak on the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville ranks as only the tenth highest in more than 200 years of record at that site. This peak was, however, the highest observed during the past 73 years in which much of the basin upstream of Nashville was regulated by several large flood-control reservoirs. At least four major tributaries to the lower Cumberland River met or exceeded warning levels established by the National Weather Service (NWS) for major flooding conditions last week. Flood peaks on the Harpeth River at Bellevue exceeded the NWS stage for major flooding by more than 5 feet, and exceeded the USGS record at that site (measured in 1948) by more than 9 feet. The Harpeth River near Kingston Springs exceeded the NWS major flood stage by almost 16 feet and was 14 higher than the previous recorded peak from 1946. Flood levels on Mill Creek near Nolensville exceeded major flood stage by more than 3 feet and downstream at Antioch exceeded major flood stage by more than 6 feet. Peak flood levels for Mill Creek further downstream at Thompson Lane in Nashville were somewhat lower, but still exceeded by less than 1 foot both the historic high and NWS stage for major flood. “Most tributaries to the lower Cumberland River had flows with only a 1 in 500 chance in any given year, causing the lower Cumberland to flood with a severity that was almost entirely unexpected,” according to Rodney Knight, surface-water specialist with the USGS Tennessee Water Science Center. “That a regulated river like the Cumberland could have such high flooding is unusual and is a testament to the severity of this event. The extreme rainfall in tributaries that enter the Cumberland River downstream from the flood storage area made this a very difficult event to regulate.” Disaster Recovery Centers Open In Nashville ATLANTA, Ga. -- Two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) operated by the state of Tennessee and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) are open in Nashville to assist those affected by severe storms and flooding that started on April 30. The DRCs are located at: The centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Disaster officials ask that before visiting the centers, people first register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those with speech and hearing disabilities. Help in all languages is available. Once registered, staff at the recovery center can check an individual’s case, answer questions about claims, or review information needed to process their claim. Recovery specialists also can supply contacts for other programs that may be able to help. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives will be at the disaster centers to answer any questions about the SBA low-interest disaster loan program for homeowners, renters, businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes. These loans are to repair or replace real estate and/or personal property damaged by the storms and flooding. Representatives will help complete and accept SBA disaster loan applications. Anyone not able to go to a DRC should call the SBA Customer Service Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday or Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., toll-free at 800-659-2955 for information and assistance, or visit the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or send an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. Taylor Swift makes donation for Nashville flood
The country music superstar is reportedly donating $500,000 to help flood victims. Nashville (WiredPRNews.com)2010-05-07 06:11:27 (GMT) – Country music superstar Taylor Swift is reportedly making a $500,000 donation in support of those affected by the massive flood in Nashville. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), the announcement was made this week during the “Flood Relief with Vince Gill and Friends” telethon this week. Swift, who reportedly moved to the city at age 14, is quoted by the AP as stating of the flood’s impact, “Being at home during the storm, I honestly could not believe what was happening to the city and the people I love so dearly… Nashville is my home, and the reason why I get to do what I love. I have always been proud to be a Nashvillian, but especially now, seeing the love that runs through this city when there are people in crisis.” High Flows in Tennessee Rivers Estimated U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey 5/6/2010 10:41:44 AM - The May 1-2 storm that brought heavy rains to the southeastern U.S. resulted in record high flows for many rivers in middle Tennessee, according to preliminary estimates released today by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Rivers in middle Tennessee crested May 2-3, breaking records at many USGS-operated streamgages. The highest streamflows were observed from Nashville west toward Jackson, extending about 40-miles north and south of Interstate 40 and affecting major tributaries to the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Flows on the Harpeth River exceeded 46,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on May 3, the day after the stream peaked at a level 4 feet higher. This breaks the previous record of 40,000 cfs, set in 1948. The Duck River near Hurricane Mills flowed at 138,000 cfs on May 4, exceeding the previous high by 17,000 cfs. Flood peaks on the Harpeth near Bellevue, Piney River at Vernon, and Duck River at Hurricane Mills appear to have exceeded levels expected with only a 0.2 percent probability (1 in 500 chance) in any given year. Elsewhere in the area, peaks on the Red River at Port Royal and Buffalo River near Flatwoods and at Lobelville exceeded those expected with only a 0.5 percent probability (1 in 200) and peaks at Mill Creek at Thompson Lane and Big Sandy River at Bruceton exceeded those expected with 1 percent probability (1 in 100). “The flows on these rivers were much greater than anticipated based on previous experience and exceeded those observed in both the 1975 and 1927 floods,” according to Rodney Knight, surface-water specialist with the USGS Tennessee Water Science Center. “Several of these estimates were based on the last observations received by satellite before our streamgages were submerged,” according to Knight. During and after storms and floods, USGS hydrologic technicians measure the flow and height of rivers to verify gage readings. During extreme flooding, USGS crews work to keep gages operating, and collect high-water-mark data at ungaged sites and where gages are submerged. This information is important because it is used by the National Weather Service to issue flood warnings. It is used by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to characterize flood hazards. El Nino, Wildfire Trouble in NW U.S.
SEATTLE -May 12, 2010- El Nino weather patterns and a relatively mild winter left Idaho, eastern Washington and south central Oregon drier than normal and vulnerable to wildfire. In addition to urging extreme caution with campfires, fireworks, trash fires, grills and other heat sources, FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger encourages residents living on wooded lots and wildland/urban interface areas to stay informed on local conditions.
NOAA: Global Temps - 2010 Hottest March on Record
April 15, 2010 - The world’s combined global land and ocean surface temperature made last month the warmest March on record, according to NOAA. Taken separately, average ocean temperatures were the warmest for any March and the global land surface was the fourth warmest for any March on record. Additionally, the planet has seen the fourth warmest January – March period on record. The monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis, which is based on records going back to 1880, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions. Temperature anomaly is the difference from average, which gives a more accurate picture of temperature change. Temperature anomaly is the difference from average, which gives a more accurate picture of temperature change. In calculating average regional temperatures, factors like station location or elevation affect the data, but those factors are less critical when looking at the difference from the average. High resolution (Credit: NOAA/National Climatic Data Center/NESDIS) * The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for March 2010 was the warmest on record at 56.3°F (13.5°C), which is 1.39°F (0.77°C) above the 20th century average of 54.9°F (12.7°C). * The worldwide ocean surface temperature was the highest for any March on record --1.01°F (0.56°C) above the 20th century average of 60.7°F (15.9°C). Separately, the global land surface temperature was 2.45°F (1.36°C) above the 20th century average of 40.8 °F (5.0°C) — the fourth warmest on record. Warmer-than-normal conditions dominated the globe, especially in northern Africa, South Asia and Canada. Cooler-than-normal regions included Mongolia and eastern Russia, northern and western Europe, Mexico, northern Australia, western Alaska and the southeastern United States. El Niño weakened to moderate strength in March, but it contributed significantly to the warmth in the tropical belt and the overall ocean temperature. According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, El Niño is expected to continue its influence in the Northern Hemisphere at least through the spring. For the year-to-date, the combined global land- and ocean-surface temperature of 55.3°F (13.0°C) was the fourth warmest for a January-March period. This value is 1.19°F (0.66°C) above the 20th century average. According to the Beijing Climate Center, Tibet experienced its second warmest March since historical records began in 1951. Delhi, India also had its second warmest March since records began in 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department. Other Highlights Arctic sea ice covered an average of 5.8 million square miles (15.1 million square kilometers) during March. This is 4.1 percent below the 1979-2000 average expanse, and the fifth-smallest March coverage since records began in 1979. Ice coverage traditionally reaches its maximum in March, and this was the 17th consecutive March with below-average Arctic sea ice coverage. This year the Arctic sea ice reached its maximum size on March 31st, the latest date for the maximum Arctic sea ice extent since satellite records began in 1979. Antarctic sea ice expanse in March was 6.9 percent below the 1979-2000 average, resulting in the eighth smallest March ice coverage on record. In China, the Xinjiang province had its wettest March since records began in 1951, while Jilin and Shanghai had their second wettest March on record. Meanwhile, Guangxi and Hainan provinces in southern China experienced their driest March on record, according to the Beijing Climate Center. Many locations across Ontario, Canada received no snow, or traces of snow, in March, which set new low snowfall records, according to Environment Canada. NOAA’s New “Hurricane Eye in the Sky” and Key Weather Satellite Gets into Position
April 15, 2010 - NOAA’s GOES-13 spacecraft became the official GOES-EAST satellite, perched 22,300 miles above the equator in a prime location to spot potentially life-threatening weather affecting the eastern half of the nation, including tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. “Just in time for the 2010 hurricane season, NOAA will have one of its newest and most technologically advanced satellites closely tracking these storms – from when they develop to when they dissipate,” said Mary Kicza, assistant administrator of NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. GOES-13 replaced GOES-12, which NOAA is shifting to provide coverage for South America, as part of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, or GEOSS. GOES-11 will continue to monitor the western half of the United States in the GOES-WEST position. GOES-13, launched in May 2006, is the first of three new NOAA geostationary environmental satellites in orbit. Of the two other spacecraft in the series, GOES-14, launched in June 2009, remains in orbital storage and ready for activation if one of the operational GOES fails. GOES-15, launched in March 2010, is undergoing tests before completing its “check-out” phase in late summer. Since the first GOES launched in 1974, these satellites have supplied the data critical for fast, accurate weather forecasts and warnings. The newer GOES help relay distress signals from emergency beacons and are equipped to monitor solar activity, which can impact billions of dollars worth of government and commercial assets in space and on the ground. NOAA manages the operational environmental satellite program and establishes requirements, provides all funding and distributes environmental satellite data for the United States. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., procures and manages the development and launch of the satellites for NOAA on a cost reimbursable basis. NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. GOES-15 Opens Its "Eyes" and Sees First Image of Earth
From approximately 22,236 miles in space, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) newest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – GOES-15 – took its first full-disk visible image of the Earth on April 6 starting at 17:33 UTC (1:33 p.m. EDT). The black and white full-disk image showed North and South America. Draped across the U.S. was a stationary front, indicated by a drape of clouds from New England westward to Kansas, where a low pressure area is located. West of the low is an approaching cold front which lay over the Rocky Mountains, bringing snow to parts of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Mostly clear skies are seen over Washington, D.C. and the Chesapeake Bay, the southeastern U.S., Gulf of Mexico, California and Mexico. GOES-15, launched on March 4, 2010, from Cape Canaveral, Fla., joins three other NOAA operational GOES spacecraft that help the agency's forecasters track life-threatening weather and solar activity that can impact the satellite-based electronics and communications industry. After five more months of tests, GOES-15 will be placed in orbital storage mode, ready for activation if any of NOAA's operational GOES spacecraft experiences trouble. GOES-15 is the third and final spacecraft to be launched in the GOES N-P Series of geostationary environmental weather satellites. With two operational satellites, they provide weather observations that cover over 50 percent of the Earth's surface. NASA's GOES Project is located at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. On March 24 the NASA and NOAA team began post launch verification testing, which will last for approximately 150 days. Once all the systems are checked out, the satellite will be turned over to NOAA for operational control and will be stored in-orbit, ready for activation should one of the operational GOES satellites degrade or exhaust their fuel. April 8, 2010 NOAA: U.S. Averaged Warmer-than-Normal, Drier-than-Normal in March April 8, 2010 - NOAA’s State of the Climate report shows the March 2010 average temperature for the entire contiguous United States was warmer-than-average with several New England states experiencing one of the warmest March’s on record. Average precipitation for the U.S. was below normal, but heavy rainfall set March records in parts of the Northeast. Based on data going back to 1895, the monthly analyses prepared by scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., are part of the suite of NOAA climate services. March temperatures relative to 1895 - 2010.
* Overall, the March temperature averaged across the contiguous United States was 44.4 degrees F, which is 1.9 degrees F above the long-term average. However, several storms developed along the Atlantic Coast, bringing below-normal temperatures to the South and Southeast, while bringing warm and wet weather to the Northeast and Midwest regions (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin). U.S. Precipitation Highlights March precipitation levels relative to 1895 - 2010.
* March precipitation, averaged across the contiguous United States, was below the long-term mean. Last month’s national average was 2.16 inches, 0.24 inch below average. The Northeast was above-normal, while much of the interior United States was below-normal. All other regions were near normal. Other Highlights * According to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, the preliminary tornado count for March was 36 – a tie for 4th quietest March since reliable records began in 1950. NCDC’s preliminary reports, which assess the current state of the climate, are released soon after the end of each month. These analyses are based on preliminary data, which are subject to revision. Additional quality control is applied to the data when late reports are received several weeks after the end of the month and as increased scientific methods improve NCDC’s processing algorithms. Norfolk, Va.-based NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson to Map Ocean Floor in Gulf of Mexico
NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, one of the most technologically advanced hydrographic survey vessels in the world, will depart its Norfolk, Va. homeport on April 6 to conduct a five-month long effort to map the seafloor and look for hazards to navigation off the Gulf coast. “The Gulf of Mexico has been affected by a number of large hurricanes in recent years, and our work will pinpoint the resulting hazards and shoals in these busy waters,” said Cmdr. Shepard Smith, Thomas Jefferson’s commanding officer. Thomas Jefferson’s primary mission is to collect and process the data needed to maintain and update the nautical charts along the U.S. East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nautical charts and other navigational products are available on NOAA's Office of Coast Survey’s Web site. “With dynamic changes in maritime commerce, especially the tremendous growth in the size and draft of commercial vessels, surveying coastal areas and sea lanes helps to support America’s maritime economy,” said Capt. John Lowell, director of NOAA's Office of Coast Survey. “Waterborne cargo contributes more than $742 billion to the nation’s economy, and NOAA’s hydrographic surveys provide real support for continuing growth in maritime trade.” Equipped with high resolution seafloor imagers, the 208-ft. Thomas Jefferson and 36-person crew can map the ocean bottom and identify areas of interest to coastal managers, biologists, geologists and emergency responders. In 2005, Thomas Jefferson conducted hydrographic surveys to support safe navigation and commerce following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson was named in honor of the president who, in 1807, formed the Survey of the Coast, the agency whose successors would eventually become part of NOAA. Thomas Jefferson is part of the NOAA fleet of ships and aircraft operated, managed and maintained by NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, which includes commissioned officers of the NOAA Corps and civilian wage mariners. FEMA's Major Phil May Receives National Hurricane Conference Award For Distinguished Service ATLANTA, Ga. -- The National Hurricane Conference, the nation's leading forum for education and professional training in hurricane preparedness, has presented Major Phillip (Phil) May the Distinguished Service Award for 2010. May, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Region IV Administrator, coordinates all FEMA programs in the eight southeastern states. The honor was presented at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando on Thursday, and was awarded in recognition of cumulative accomplishments and support of hurricane preparedness activities spanning his nearly 30 year emergency management career. "Phil May has always been a champion of the National and Regional Hurricane Programs, and has shown outstanding leadership in hurricane preparedness, response and recovery," said National Hurricane Conference Executive Director David Tait. May has served FEMA for more than 21 years, including his current role as Region IV Administrator, which he also held previously from 1981 to 1994. He has recognized the importance of the Emergency Management and National Hurricane Center relationship through support and operational use of the Hurricane Liaison Team. “The FEMA family is proud of the outstanding leadership Phil has exhibited, and this award is a testament to his continued dedication to excellence in emergency management,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "Since returning to FEMA in October 2006, he has provided unwavering support to the eight states he serves in Region IV." May is a native of Alabama and attended the University of Montevallo. He received his commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Force in 1971 and served as a member of the Alabama National Guard from 1971 to 1983. FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. FEMA Administrator Fugate Addresses National Hurricane Conference ORLANDO -March 31, 2010- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today addressed the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, discussing the importance of coordination with state and local officials in preparing for, responding to and recovering from hurricanes. Fugate also talked about ways to better engage the public as part of the nation's emergency management team. "FEMA is only one part of the nation's emergency management team," said Fugate. "As hurricane season approaches, FEMA is coordinating with state and local officials to ensure that all communities along the coast are prepared to respond. But we can only be as prepared as the public, and so it's important that everyone take steps now to help keep their family safe in the event of a hurricane or other emergency." Fugate served previously as Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management from 2001 to 2009, a tenure that included some of the most active hurricane seasons and some of the largest responses in the state's history. The National Hurricane Conference brings federal, state and local officials, as well as private sector and non-profit partners together each year to share ideas, learn about new technologies and talk about ways to improve hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in the United States and U.S. territories in the Caribbean and Pacific. El Niño strengthens
The climate pattern known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or “ENSO” for short, is the biggest cause of large-scale climate variability in the tropics. During an El Niño episode, the central and eastern Pacific Ocean are warmer than normal. The above-normal sea surface temperatures are maintained by gentle but giant waves of warm water that slosh across the Pacific from Indonesia toward South America. This series of globes shows the eastward progression of one of these deep Kelvin waves in February 2010. The globes show sea surface height anomalies, which means places where the water surface is higher (red) or lower (blue) than average. A higher-than-average sea surface height at a given location indicates that there is a deeper-than-normal layer of warm water. Lower-than-average sea surface height indicates a shallower layer of warm water. The globes are based on 10 days of data centered on January 15, January 30, and February 15. In January (left-hand globe), sea surface heights across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were elevated (red), but not extremely so, potentially a sign that El Niño was weakening. But in early February, a strong sea level anomaly appeared northeast of Australia (center globe). This swell of deep, warm water is the start of the Kelvin wave, and by late February, it had spread eastward into the central Pacific (right-hand globe) and re-invigorated the current El Niño. Where do Kelvin waves come from? Under normal conditions, the tropics’ prevailing easterly winds push Sun-warmed surface waters across the Pacific from the Americas toward Indonesia, creating a deep pool of warm water in the western Pacific. During an El Niño, the trade winds falter, and sometimes even reverse, for months. When the winds that maintain the warm pool falter, a large pulse of warm water from the western Pacific slides back toward the east. 1. NASA Earth Observatory images by Jesse Allen, Kevin Ward, and Robert Simmon. Caption by Rebecca Lindsey, based on interpretation provided by Josh Willis and Bill Patzert, NASA JPL. more stories A Burst of Spring
Spring has sprung on Mars, bringing with it the disappearance of carbon dioxide ice (dry ice) that covers the north polar sand dunes. In spring, the sublimation of the ice (going directly from ice to gas) causes a host of uniquely Martian phenomena. In this image streaks of dark basaltic sand have been carried from below the ice layer to form fan-shaped deposits on top of the seasonal ice. The similarity in the directions of the fans suggests that they formed at the same time, when the wind direction and speed was the same. They often form along the boundary between the dune and the surface below. Residents, businesses and community officials along the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota are on the verge of having their patience and determination tested again. For the second year in a row, weather conditions are setting the stage for another round of major spring flooding throughout the area.
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