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The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is a 65-year cycle during which sea-surface temperatures in the North Atlantic alternate between warm (positive) and cool (negative) phases. The effects of this Oscillation are felt around the World. For example, warm (positive) sea-surface temperatures in the North Atlantic generally correspond to drier and warmer conditions in the Western [...]

A crest is the highest part or peak of an ocean wave, whereas a trough is the lowest point. Wind strength and duration directly influence how big waves become. A fast wind that blows for a long period of time will cause wave height to increase and form whitecaps, and the wave eventually breaks. Waves [...]

The maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Camille in 1969 were estimated to be around 200 mph, but because the storm destroyed all wind-recording instruments when it made landfall in Mississippi, the actual sustained winds will never be known! Camille is the second most intense hurricane to hit the U.S. on record, resulting in more than [...]

High winds and heavy rains can allow non-native animals to escape captivity. In Louisiana, the nutria, an invasive marsh rat that eats important marsh grasses, is thought to have been set loose during past hurricanes. Seasons: Summer, Fall (Source: Lousiana State University, Center for the Study of Public Health Impacts of Hurricanes. “Louisiana Coastal Issues: [...]

The majority of damage in Florida from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was due to wind. Maximum winds in Florida were not able to be measured because instruments were broken when the storm made landfall. Gusts above 160 mph were measured before instruments were damaged, and 120 mph gusts were reported in Louisiana after the storm [...]

Erosion is a normal occurrence on any coastal shoreline, but because of the loss of wetlands and other natural guards against erosion, it now poses a risk to homes and coastal communities. In the past, most techniques used to stabilize coastal erosion included the construction of hard structures, such as seawalls and bulkheads, but scientists [...]

The United States population is growing at an unprecedented rate. On average, our population is growing at the rate of one person every 11 seconds. In 1900, the US was home to around 76 million people and by 2000, this figure had jumped to 282 million. In 2006, our population passed the 300 million mark [...]

Plastic and metal trash in rivers and streams, which eventually lead to the Gulf, are far slower to decompose than other types of litter. In fact, a six-pack yoke could last over 400 years in salt water and a discarded aluminum can could take 100 to 500 years to disintegrate! Viewer Tip: Protect our waters – [...]

According to the U.S. Geological Survey Marine and Coastal Geology Program, Louisiana’s wetlands are disappearing at a disturbing rate. Extending over 180 miles along the coast and 80 miles inland, Louisiana is home to about 40 percent of the wetlands in the continental United States, but represents about 80 percent of wetland losses. If Louisiana [...]

About 550 million tons of soil reaches the Gulf each year from the Mississippi river, enough to extend the coast of Louisiana 91 meters each year! Soils in Gulf waters can block sunlight that plants and animals need to survive, as well as transport nutrients and chemicals that are harmful to water quality. Viewer Tip: [...]

Did you know that Louisiana loses over 50 square miles of topsoil into the Gulf each year due to erosion? Viewer Tip: One way to prevent erosion is to plant native vegetation (plants that are well-adapted to your local climate) that will hold topsoil in place. There are plenty of different ways to design your [...]

Two-thirds of Alabama, as well as parts of Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia, flow into the Mobile Bay from the Mobile River watershed. The Mobile River watershed has the fourth largest discharge rate in the U.S., with 62,500 cubic feet entering Mobile Bay per second! This large volume of water carries 4.7 million metric tons of [...]

Did you know that forests supply natural filtration and storage systems that process nearly two-thirds of the United States’ water supply? As population growth increases the demands on water supply, forest lands are declining through conversion to developed land to provide room for the growing population. When forests remain healthy and intact, they benefit our [...]

The distribution and health of underwater plants, such as seagrass, is closely tied to light availability. If the amount of light shining through the water is decreased, the size of the blades and the density of the grass thins and eventually entire beds of sea grass may be lost. Coastal development that is not properly [...]

Oil spills can severly harm the environment and have impacts on humans as well! In July of 2008, 419,000 gallons of #6 fuel oil were spilled into the Mississippi River when a chemical tanker collided with a fuel barge. Fuel #6 is thick and dark, and it is estimated that only five to ten percent [...]

A tornado watch indicates tornadoes or severe weather are possible within a certain area, but may not be looming. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted or that Doppler radar indicates a pattern in a thunderstorm that can spawn a tornado. Viewer Tip: Listen to your local TV or radio weather forecast [...]

Florida experienced an average of 1,507,277 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes per year between 1996 and 2005! Summer is peak lightning season and in 2007, 45 people were struck and killed by lightning in the U.S. Of those lightning strikes, 98 percent the were outside, 80 percent were males, 30 percent were males between the ages of [...]

A study of lightning flashes in the Houston area between 1989 and 2000 found that lightning flash activity over the center of Houston was high compared to surrounding areas throughout the year, with summer and fall having the highest activity. Scientists think that the heat island effect in cities (paved surfaces absorbing and trapping heat, [...]

Florida is the “lightning capital” of the United States, with more lightning strikes than any other state – on average, lighning results in more deaths in Florida than any other weather hazard! Lightning is a serious threat during thunderstorms, and can strike up to 10 miles outside any rainfall. Viewer Tip: Remember the 30/30 rule: [...]

An average of 11 tropical storms develop each year over the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. While many of those storms stay over the ocean without impacting the U.S., about five hurricanes will strike the U.S. Coastline from Texas to Maine in a given three-year period, with two being Category 3 (winds [...]