United States Geological Survey (USGS) scientists have gained more information on how hurricanes can gain strength.
Observations recorded by USGS scientists during Hurricane María in 2017, showed new ocean processes that may help create more accurate hurricane forecasting and impact predictions.
The research, published in the journal Science Advances, demonstrates how the interaction between ocean islands and extreme storms can create underwater currents that make the storms more intense. The results are applicable to the thousands of islands in the world's tropical oceans subject to these types of weather systems.
“We were surprised to find that the direction of the approaching hurricane winds relative to the coastline kept the ocean surface layer distinctly warmer compared to the colder waters below,” said Olivia Cheriton, a USGS oceanographer and lead author of the paper. “This is important because warmer sea surface temperatures provided more energy for the storm.”
The underwater instrument package, which collected the high-resolution ocean observations throughout Hurricane María, included an acoustic current profiler, an acoustic current velocimeter, and temperature, salinity, and turbidity sensors and was deployed at a depth of 54 meters. The results of this study are intended to be used by scientists and emergency managers tasked with hurricane forecasts.
