Hurricane Season Countdown

Hurricanes: Powerful Agents Shaping the Coast

Satellite Loop of Hurricane Katrina's Track
Satellite Loop of Hurricane Katrina's Track [Image courtesy of the University of Wisconsin (CIMSS)]

Shortcut URL to this page: http://www.nbii.gov/gulfhurricanes

After tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico make landfall, scientists at the USGS National Wetlands Research Center are poised for many kinds of assessments, from aerial damage reconnaissance to recovery patterns of habitats, in an effort to understand how storms affect coastal wetlands. New studies are addressing how catastrophic events can increase the spread of already troublesome invasive species such as the cactus moth and channeled applesnail.  Historical studies include geographic information system mapping of habitats, ecological studies of vegetation and soils, effects of flooding on coastal forests, and effects of storm damage on habitat for birds and other animals.

Additional information on natural hazards, including hurricanes, is available from the USGS. For the National Wetlands Research Center's response to the 2008 Gulf Coast hurricane season, see Special Feature: Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. NWRC's work during the 2005 tropical cyclone season is also documented online at Focus on Hurricanes: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.


To view the Atlantic hurricane and tropical storm names of 2011, click "more..." below.


Current Weather Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico

 

Click the image to view NOAA's rainbow infrared satellite loop of the Gulf of Mexico. (Requires Java)

ScienceDaily: Hurricane and Cyclone News
Hurricane News and Research. Read current events articles on hurricanes, hurricanes and global warming, the effect of La Nina on the 2006 hurricane season and more.
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CollapseLink between earthquakes and tropical cyclones: New study may help scientists identify regions at high risk for earthquakes
A groundbreaking study shows that earthquakes, including the recent 2010 temblors in Haiti and Taiwan, may be triggered by tropical cyclones.
CollapseNASA's TRMM satellite sees the power in Tropical Storm Alenga
The first tropical storm of the Southern Indian Ocean season has been renamed from Tropical Storm 01S to Tropical Storm Alenga as it continues to strengthen. NASA's TRMM satellite was able to capture a look at the rainfall rates and cloud heights within Alenga recently.
CollapseNASA sees birth of first Southern Indian Ocean season tropical storm
The Southern Indian Ocean cyclone season is off and running and NASA's Aqua satellite saw the birth of Tropical Cyclone 01S.

Storm Pulse

Stormpulse event tracking overlays the location of Gulf of Mexico storms on NASA base imagery. Data include historical tracks, forecast models, wind probabilities, cloud cover, wind fields, buoys, current center location, wind speed, pressure, and movement.  

Active Atlantic Tropical Systems