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| Satellite paints picture of rainfall associated with Hurricane Ike 25 millimeters = ~1 inch Courtesy: SSAI/NASA, Hal Pierce |
Hurricanes. So what?
Winds in excess of 140 miles per hour, several tornadoes, and waves of water 15 feet higher than normal – what stands between these and you? Time. Or if you’re lucky, a few states. Because these are all effects of a hurricane.
Even then, hurricanes can theoretically pack a punch anywhere in the United States. Case and point: 2008’s Hurricane Ike drenched St. Louis with over four inches of rain in less than 36 hours. It even brought 60 mph wind gusts to Belleville, Illinois. [1]
Hurricanes and 2011
For the less fortunate souls who live on the Atlantic coast, these conditions are experienced far more often at extraordinary levels. The 2011 hurricane season was especially active. In all, there were 19 tropical cyclones – these are basically hurricanes, but slightly weaker and less organized. Seven of the cyclones developed into full-blown hurricanes.The topic of hurricanes is very broad. People devote their entire lives to the study of hurricanes, if not certain mechanisms within hurricanes. The reason why is simple. From oil prices to the moderation of heat in earth’s climate [2], hurricanes play a significant role. In addition, before significant improvements in weather forecasting, thousands could die from hurricanes. The death toll of the Galveston hurricane of 1900 is estimated as high as 12,000 [3]. Even in today’s modern times, hurricanes can be deadly. Hurricane Katrina (2005) claimed the lives of over 1,600 people [4].
Thankfully, the carnage of the 2011 hurricane season doesn’t compare to the aforementioned events. But the 2011 hurricane season packed a punch nonetheless. Among the other impacts of the 2011 hurricane season, over five million Americans lost power and nearly people 100 were killed.
For our purposes, this site delves into the 2011 hurricane season - still a topic with a wealth of information. How did the 2011 hurricane season compare to others? What caused this season to be so particularly active? More importantly, what were the impacts of this season? Those are some of the questions this site seeks to answer.
2. Colling, Angela. "Poleward Transfer of Heat by the Atmosphere." Ocean Circulation. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001. 22. Print.
3. Chandler, Lynn. "Hurricane Forecasts Improved Since Galveston Disaster." NASA Earth Observatory. Earth Observatory News Room, 6 Sept. 2000. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.
4. Sylvester, Judith. Introduction. The Media and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Lost and Found. By Sylvester. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. xiv. Google Book Search. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.
