Hurricane formation linked to sea color: study

[Pearl River]

If this has already been posted, I apologize. What will they come up with next!!!

Hurricane formation linked to sea color: study

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A change in the color of the ocean could dramatically impact the number and intensity of hurricanes, according to US researchers.

A team of researchers with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ran computer simulations of such a change in the North Pacific, a region that accounts for more than half the world's hurricane-force winds.

The main factor is the green tint ocean water takes when there are large concentrations of chlorophyll, a pigment that helps tiny organisms known as phytoplankton convert sunlight into food for the rest of the marine ecosystem.

"We think of the oceans as blue, but the oceans aren?t really blue, they're actually a sort of greenish color," said lead reseacher Anand Gnanadesikan in a statement released Friday.

"The fact that [the oceans] are not blue has a [direct] impact on the distribution of tropical cyclones," Gnanadesikan said.

Without chlorophyll, sunlight penetrates deeper into the ocean, leaving the surface water cooler.

Cold water in turn causes changes in air circulation patterns, forcing strong winds aloft, "which tend to prevent thunderstorms from developing the necessary superstructure that allows them to grow into hurricanes," the researchers said.

Phytoplankton populations around the world have been declining over the last century, the reseachers said, citing recently published research.

The study is to appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100815/ts_afp/usweatherhurricaneoceans

[TampaFl]

Since things are quiet right now in the tropics right now I came across this story. An intersting read.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100815/ts_afp/usweatherhurricaneoceans

Thoughts & comments welcomed.

Robert

EDIT: Duplicate topics merged - Stephanie

[abajan]

Well, living on a small island and being able to view the ocean practically every day, I can vouch for the fact that the sea hardly ever looks blue. It’s usually mostly various shades of turquoise, with the darker areas indicating deeper waters. Of course, the colors also vary according to the time of day and amount of cloud cover. For instance, during the predawn hours when I take my walk along the ever popular Browns Beach, it’s usually a grayish turquoise or teal. (I’m not like most men - I know my colors! )

Anyway, the explanation of the link between sea color and cyclogenesis seems plausible.

[abajan]

Er... There’s already a thread on this:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=109018