Sep 16
Amazing shot from space of hurricane Ivan
2004 at 07.55 am posted by Veerle Pieters
Hurricane Ivan is one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in recent history and if we are to believe climate experts more such storms are likely in the future due to global warming. Ivan was a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Hurricanes need warm water and the oceans are heating up.
Oceans need to be 80 degrees Fahrenheit/ 26,6 degrees Celsius or more to produce enough water vapor for a hurricane to get started. Water vapor or moisture in the air is the high-octane fuel of hurricanes. I definitely recommend reading this interesting article to get a better insight. Another eyebrow raiser:
Largely unnoticed in the attention focused on hurricanes is the record number of tornadoes the United States has experienced this year. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency says a record 173 tornadoes were reported in the month of August, 47 more than the previous record, set in 1979. Iowa has already experienced a record high of 110 tornadoes this year, when its 30-year average is just 45.
This NASA picture (3032x2064 pixels) from the ISS definitely shows how large Ivan is as you can see that big from space. My thoughts are with people who have to deal with these forces of nature and also reminds me how good we have it here. Maybe a little bit more rain then necessary but then again this just peanuts compared to Ivan or the next hurricane Jeanne currently evolving.
13served
1
We had four tornadoes in Alberta this summer. We rarely have any tornadoes, let alone more than one in the same year.
2
It’s the global warming dude. Meanwhile, Bush, this asshole, refuses to sign the Kyoto agreement, he’s gonna lead us to chaos.
3
Georges, there is too much debate among the cause of global warming to say absolutely that not meeting terms of the Kyoto agreement will lead to environmental chaos.
We have been tracking weather patterns for such a relatively brief period of time, that it is nearly impossible to tell whether the global warming is caused by pollutants in the atmosphere or if global warming is part of a millennial cyclical weather pattern.
4
How sad. Grenada has lost 30% of its homes and over 90% homesteads have been razed roofless. For a tiny island, that is the most vicious curse that could ever be imagined. :(
5
I hope Jeanne’s the last one.
6
Bush is to blame for global warming and all that is bad in the world. Ya know what, its not only Bush’s fault its America’s fault too (wish I could type the way Bush speaks, but I’m not from Texas). So world hold on tight… you’re in for another four years of hell!!!! Btw, I love your site and your tutorials and your love of all things Apple. Peace! I can only code, design is not even second nature… third nature? ps why are your submit buttons in all caps, isn’t that a major design faux paus (sp?)
7
We’re supposed to get some of the rains from Ivan today and tomorrow. There’s flood warnings throughout my state. We shall see.
Oh, and Kim, Jeanne isn’t the last. Karl is out in the Atlantic and they expect it to hit hurricane status in under 12 hours.
About 7 years ago there was a late season (December-ish) hurricane that drove up the coast and then dumped a TON of snow on the area. Who place was shut down for a week. Amazing the power of these storms.
8
Yep, Bush is the onle and only reason there’s global warming on this planet. Not like it wasn’t begun beofre he was born. Not like it won’t continue after he dies.
No… not like other presidents - including the one who immediately preceeded him didn’t relax any laws regarding emissions during their reign.
No… not like other countries - including Iraq and Saddam - didn’t contribute by setting oil well fires.
My point? Maybe I’m saying blaming Bush is way too simplistic. Maybe I’m saying that the problem is due to all of humanity - and can only be solved by all of humanity.
Or maybe I’m saying that turning a posting about hurricanes, tornados, and global warming into yet another political slam on Bush is to come off sounding like a bitter person who has no compassion for the victims of these terrible storms and the destruction they’ve wreaked. (Sorta lbrings to mind three words… pot… kettle… black.)
Or maybe my point is ALL of the above.
My prayers go to those who’ve lost family in these storms.
9
@Shad, this sounds really awful. Nature can be so cruel :-(
@Dave, yes I agree it’s far from simplistic and we can’t blame it on 1 person or 1 situation. Only a global solution will help… But of course we have to start somewhere, at least we should ALL do some effort, and at this moment Bush seem to not care about this rather big issue. He has to think about the future, we all do. Remember, a cleaner environment starts at home ;-)
10
We really should start somewhere, and singling one dislikable person out is a perfectly natural place to start!*
Great picture btw.
Also, it’s good to know that Ivan is merely a storm now, it’s Jeanne you want to be looking out for.
*Not that I like Bush, and his breakage with Kyoto is disastarous, but still - there are so many other Americans we can blame too!
11
Here, Aruba lays outside the Hurricane belt, that’s what we were told. But we were victims of the aftermath of Ivan the Terrible. Some 700 houses were damaged by flooding. Thankfully no one got hurt physically. But some poor animals didn’t get the same luck. But seeing what Ivan did to the neighboring Island and the coast of USA we sure were very lucky indeed.
12
Very interesting post. The statistics are no doubt alarming. Lets hope they don’t find their way into our backyards, ;).
13
I’m a big NASA fan. Why aren’t we more in space yet? We could monitor more of these phenomenons more closely…