Nov-26 to Dec 1

title: Historic drought will cut farm profit 3.3%
Author:  ALAN BJERGA
Article and Picture URL: http://www.startribune.com/nation/181084221.html?refer=y


"The worst U.S. drought in more than five decades will lower farm profits 3.3 percent this year from 2011 as rising feed costs outweigh higher crop prices caused by drier conditions, the government said.
Income will fall to $114 billion from 2011's record $117.9 billion, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday on its website. The estimate for this year is down from $122.2 billion in August. Expenses such as diesel fuel and animal feed will increase 9 percent to an all-time high of $237.1 billion."

Nov- 26 to dec 1

Title: Drought-Parched Mississippi River Is Halting Barges

Article/picture url: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-27/drought-parched-mississippi-river-is-halting-barges

Author: By Alan Bjerga

"Mississippi River barge traffic is slowing as the worst drought in five decades combines with a seasonal dry period to push water levels to a near-record low, prompting shippers to seek alternatives.

River vessels are cutting loads on the nation’s busiest waterway while railroads sign up new business and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draws criticism from lawmakers over its management of the river, which could be shut to cargo from companies including Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (ADM) next month."


 

Nov-5 -10

Title: was super storm sandy more costly then katrina
Article and picture url: http://www.livescience.com/25076-sandy-katrina-cost.html


"New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo drew a comparison between Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina on Monday (Nov. 26), claiming that the superstorm that hit the East Coast in late October was "more impactful" in many ways than the 2005 Gulf Coast disaster."When you look at the damage done — the economic damage, the housing damage, the damage to commercial properties — because of the density of New York, the number of people affected, the number of properties affected was much larger in Hurricane Sandy than in Hurricane Katrina," said Cuomo."

November 5 - 10

Title:

--> Superstorm Sandy racks up $32 billion in NY damages

Author:  Michael Gormley

Url for article:  http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1126/Superstorm-Sandy-racks-up-32-billion-in-NY-damages-video

Picture source: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/121101113548-01-sandy-1101-horizontal-gallery.jpg

"New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had announced earlier in the day that Sandy caused $19 billion in losses in New York City — part of the $32 billion estimate Cuomo used.
New York taxpayers, Cuomo said, can't foot the bill. "It would incapacitate the state. ... Tax increases are always a last, last, last resort."Cuomo met with New York's congressional delegation to discuss the new figures and present "less than a wish list." The delegation, Cuomo and Bloomberg will now draw up a request for federal disaster aid."

Post two Oct - 22 -28

Title:NASA's TRMM satellite sees birth of Arabian Sea cyclone

url/site article: picture: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-trmm-satellite-birth-arabian.html

Since it was launched in 1997 the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been useful for monitoring tropical cyclones in the tropics. TRMM passed above the first tropical cyclone of 2012 (TC01A) as it was forming in the Arabian Sea on October 2012 at 1513 UTC (11:13 a.m. EDT). Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) were overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) to provide a complete picture of rainfall rates occurring within the storm.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-trmm-satellite-birth-arabian.html#jCp

 "TRMM PR and TMI data showed that rain at the surface was falling at a rate of up to 41 mm/hour (~1.6 inches) in the forming tropical cyclone. Bands of thunderstorms were also wrapping tightly into a well-defined low level center of circulation. TRMM PR data also was also used to create a 3-D image that showed the vertical structure of convective storms in the area. The view showed some towering convective storms were reaching heights of over 16 km (~9.9 miles)."

TRMM PR and TMI data showed that rain at the surface was falling at a rate of up to 41 mm/hour (~1.6 inches) in the forming tropical cyclone. Bands of thunderstorms were also wrapping tightly into a well-defined low level center of circulation. TRMM PR data also was also used to create a 3-D image that showed the vertical structure of convective storms in the area. The view showed some towering convective storms were reaching heights of over 16 km (~9.9 miles).

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-trmm-satellite-birth-arabian.html#jCp

Since it was launched in 1997 the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been useful for monitoring tropical cyclones in the tropics. TRMM passed above the first tropical cyclone of 2012 (TC01A) as it was forming in the Arabian Sea on October 2012 at 1513 UTC (11:13 a.m. EDT). Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) were overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) to provide a complete picture of rainfall rates occurring within the storm.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-trmm-satellite-birth-arabian.html#jCp

Since it was launched in 1997 the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been useful for monitoring tropical cyclones in the tropics. TRMM passed above the first tropical cyclone of 2012 (TC01A) as it was forming in the Arabian Sea on October 2012 at 1513 UTC (11:13 a.m. EDT). Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) were overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) to provide a complete picture of rainfall rates occurring within the storm.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-trmm-satellite-birth-arabian.html#jCp

Since it was launched in 1997 the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been useful for monitoring tropical cyclones in the tropics. TRMM passed above the first tropical cyclone of 2012 (TC01A) as it was forming in the Arabian Sea on October 2012 at 1513 UTC (11:13 a.m. EDT). Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) were overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) to provide a complete picture of rainfall rates occurring within the storm.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-trmm-satellite-birth-arabian.html#jCp

Since it was launched in 1997 the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been useful for monitoring tropical cyclones in the tropics. TRMM passed above the first tropical cyclone of 2012 (TC01A) as it was forming in the Arabian Sea on October 2012 at 1513 UTC (11:13 a.m. EDT). Rainfall from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) were overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) to provide a complete picture of rainfall rates occurring within the storm.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nasa-trmm-satellite-birth-arabian.html#jCp

Post one October 22-28

Title: Hurricane Sandy could be a Halloween nightmare

URL website: http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2012/10/24/jamaica-storm-hurricane-sandy/1653851/

"Hurricane Sandy's rampage through the Caribbean today and Thursday is only the beginning: Forecasters say the storm could morph into a monstrous nor'easter and slam the U.S. East Coast next week — or it could miss us entirely.
If it hits the Northeast the day before Halloween, as one computer model shows, it would be a disastrous storm, bringing coastal flooding, drenching rainfall, high winds, downed trees, power outages, travel mayhem and even Appalachian snow, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski."



source for picture: http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1440&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=ft1k3YOG3mZG4M:&imgrefurl=http://www.ct.gov/hurricane&docid=Qt8zfXxF8pH-dM&imgurl=http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/communications/images/hurricane.jpg&w=1280&h=960&ei=Ao2IUInMOILg0gHmt4HIBg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=0&sig=102066962933212619493&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=188&start=0&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0,i:104&tx=1120&ty=481

Post two October 15 -19

Title: Presidential Debates Offered Nothing on Climate Change

Site URL: http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/10/24/presidential_debates_offered_nothing_on_climate.htm

"For the first time since the topic surfaced in a presidential race in 1988, nominees made no mention of climate change during the prime-time television debates this year between the presidential contenders themselves or their running mates. Debate moderators also chose not to ask President Barack Obama or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney about the issue, despite a clamor by climate activists and some not-so-gentle prodding on the part of pundits and scientists" 

 

Source for picture: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1023/Obama-Romney-ignore-climate-change-but-so-do-voters-video

post one week october 15 -19

Title: 5 Northern California tornadoes tie state record
Author: Associated Press

URL site: http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_21840020/5-northern-california-tornadoes-tie-state-record

"SACRAMENTO -- The five tornadoes that touched down across Northern California this week tied a single-day record dating to 1996, the National Weather Service said Tuesday.

Thunderstorms were expected again Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the first series of storms of the season, but they were not expected to produce the same dangerous turbulence.
"Knock on wood, we don't expect them to be as severe," said Jim Mathews, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.
The worst of the weather was on Monday, he said. There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the Central Valley through Wednesday before things dry out Thursday. A winter weather advisory was in effect for Tuesday night in the Sierra Nevada, with up to seven more inches of snow expected. Snow showers on Wednesday might add another two inches."


Source of picture: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=weather&id=8856252

October post week 8-13

Title Article: Severe Storm Drops Hail Throughout Colorado Springs
 website for article and picture: http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/Severe-Storm-Drops-Hail-Throughout-Colorado-Springs-171611141.html

"A severe thunderstorm moving through Colorado Springs dumped hail in some areas and flooded streets.
The hail was so much in areas like Montebello and Union that it looked like a snow storm had passed through.
The storm also caused flooding at Date and Siferd. There was so much water it looked like a stream instead of a road."

posts october 8 -13

Article Title: Severe storms with damaging winds, torrential rain possible Tuesday
By: Jason Samenow
Website for picture and article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/severe-storms-with-damaging-winds-torrential-rain-possible-tuesday/2012/09/17/a3f1a50a-00e0-11e2-b260-32f4a8db9b7e_blog.html

"Based on current information (subject to change a bit), the most likely timing for thunderstorms is between 2-8 p.m. (from west to east) Tuesday. A strong squall line may sweep through much of the region at this time, although a few individual more isolated storms could develop ahead of this main line. The worst of the storms may coincide with the heart of Tuesday’s PM commute.
The biggest potential hazard with these storms is damaging winds capable of felling trees and power lines. There is a power outage risk with this event if storms reach their potential."

Post october 1-6

Article Title: Innovation At NWS: Data, Technology Fuel Advanced Tornado Forecasting
By: Judi Hasson
Website: http://gov.aol.com/2012/10/09/innovation-at-nws-data-technology-fuel-advanced-tornado-foreca/
Picture source: http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1440&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=gIVGG4FebWMroM:&imgrefurl=http://article.wn.com/view/2012/07/30/Wichita_companies_on_the_verge_of_Social_Madness_elimination/&docid=VM1s8SUu1lHKQM&imgurl=http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0YxvlnNbiMM/0.jpg&w=480&h=360&ei=9Hh0ULCSBPLyyAHb84D4Cw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=197&vpy=164&dur=338&hovh=189&hovw=252&tx=113&ty=114&sig=104387902571643356614&page=1&tbnh=148&tbnw=197&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:74


"The National Weather Service is on a hunt for killer tornadoes, using the latest technology to warn people sooner and creating a model that could be used by other agencies to make predictions on everything from health to the economy."

Post for the week of October 1 -6

Monson continues to recovery after June 1st tornado
By: Becker
Source: Website article and picture: http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/monson-continues-to-recovery-after-june-1st-tornado

"The last of the mobile homes are still being used following the June 1, 2011 devastation. Dozens of these mobile homes were a common sight for months after the tornado ripped apart homes.
Mons assured 22News, these temporary homes are sturdy enough to provide tornado victims with safe shelter for another winter if necessary"

Ted Weissberg

Article title: Weather Satellite Now Offline: GOES-13 Issues May Affect Forecasting 

URL:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/weather-satellite-offline-goes-13_n_1912953.html

Picture Source: http://abobora-oca.blogspot.com/2010/07/goes-13-is-americas-new-goes-east.html

Author of article: Andrew Freedman 

"In the midst of the very active North Atlantic hurricane season, the main weather satellite scientists use for keeping tabs on the weather across eastern North America and the Atlantic Ocean has gone offline. The outage began late on Sept. 23, after a period when the satellite, known as GOES-13, had been experience increasing vibrations, or “noise,” in particular instruments that was degrading its performance."

By: Ted Weissberg

Title of Article: Tornado Town Hall Meetings Help Researchers

UR: of article: http://www.nwc.ou.edu/news/spotlights/m.blog/78/tornado-town-hall-meetings-help-researchers

Article by: Daphne Thompson

"The goal of the research is ultimately to better communicate tornado risk in real-time to the public. A study done following the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak in the southeast U.S.revealed that local risk perceptions shaped the way people understood and responded to the outbreak as it happened. Scientists communicating about tornado threat know nothing abouthow these perceptions influence behavior, and to communicate better, steps must be taken tounderstand and account for these other ways of knowing."



picture source: http://www.nwc.ou.edu/news/spotlights/m.blog/78/tornado-town-hall-meetings-help-researchers

By: Ted Weissberg

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-national-weather-service-warned-of-isaa/nR9jc/


"As the threat began to evolve and materialize, the first of several flash flood warnings for Palm Beach County was issued by the NWS’s Miami office at 10:49 p.m. Sunday for the same areas that had been under the flood watch since early Sunday. All things considered, the materializing of the heavy rainfall and flooding should not have come as a big surprise."



http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1440&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbnid=rhI_HInJXStE7M:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood&docid=F2evm4Lk_a_GtM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Jeddah_Flood_-_King_Abdullah_Street.jpg/220px-Jeddah_Flood_-_King_Abdullah_Street.jpg&w=220&h=165&ei=XllTUM71H6rxygHQh4D4CQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=334&sig=116029619378923291133&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=176&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:145&tx=73&ty=16

By: Ted Weissberg

http://www.examiner.com/article/year-s-101st-80-day-to-precede-noticeably-cooler-weather-over-next-2-weeks

"Chicago area residents will enjoy another 80-plus degree day, which will be the year’s 101st as mostly sunny skies will allow for plenty of solar heating amid southerly winds. Unfortunately, this will be the last of the 80s for some time."

By: Ted Weissberg

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-04/gasoline-futures-rise-on-speculation-isaac-tightened-inventories

"Futures sank after Valero Energy Corp. and Phillips 66 started three refineries, the last three plants remaining shut because of Hurricane Isaac. West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.17 to settle at $95.30 a barrel after the Institute of Supply Management’s factory index fell to 49.6 in August."


Source for picture:  http://blog.gasbuddy.com/posts/GasBuddy-Gasoline-prices-to-rise-sharply-in-coming-days/1715-484357-824.aspx

 Posted: by Ted Weissberg
 http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/04/us/severe-weather/index.html


"Throughout the state, at least 13,000 homes were damaged, Christina Stephens, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said Tuesday."