Storms

Tropical and extra-tropical storms are among the most destructive natural events on Earth. Tropical storms are estimated to cause an average of 10,000 deaths per year and to potentially cost the global economy more than $9.7 Trillion over the next century. Growing coastal populations, urbanization, and rising sea levels magnify our vulnerabilities to storms, escalating the need for more accurate storm track, intensity and impact forecasts. Tropical storm track forecasting has shown steady improvement over the past 25 years due, in part, to the improvements in the global atmospheric forecast ensembles. But similar improvements in tropical storm intensity forecasts have lagged, in part due to the paucity of upper ocean data to define its heat content, and the uncertainty in the processes that influence the transfer of heat between the ocean and atmosphere. Tropical storm impacts, such as wind and storm surge, cannot be accurately forecast until both track and intensity forecasts are accurate. The goal of the OceanGliders Storms Observing Network is to demonstrate the value and promote the use of underwater ocean gliders to support tropical and extra-tropical storm forecasting globally. Ocean gliders are complimentary to other storm sampling systems in their ability to rapidly profile the upper ocean and transmit data even during the most severe storm conditions. They provide a unique dataset for scientific studies of rapid upper ocean evolution as well as high-value profile data for assimilation in both operational and research forecast models before, during and after storms. The goal will be achieved by bringing together ocean glider data providers, ocean model data assimilators and atmospheric storm forecasters together to demonstrate the utility of a globally coordinated storm glider fleet to provide near-real-time upper ocean data to operational storm forecast centers.

  • Scott Glenn (Rutgers, USA)

  • Chari Pattiaratchi (University Western Australia, Australia)

  • Gustavo Goni (NOAA AMOL, USA)

  • Ruth Curry (Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, USA)

  • Steve DiMarco (Texas A&M University, USA)

  • Seb Swart (South Africa & Sweden)

  • Sik Huh (KIOST, South Korea)

  • Yi Chao (Seatrec & JPL, China)

  • Sue Chen (NRL-Monterey, USA)

  • James Cummings (NRL-Monterey, USA)

  • Richard Crout (NRL-Stennis, USA)

  • Avichal Mehra (NOAA NCEP, USA)

  • Ruth Perry (Shell )

  • Travis Miles (Rutgers. USA)

  • Doug Wilson (USVI, USA)

  • Roy Watlington (USVI, USA).

  • Pat Hogan (NRL, USA)

  • Julio Morrel (UPRM, Puerto Rico)

  • Cesar Torez (IOCARIBE)

  • …