Delta Airlines Flight 191

            On August 2, 1985, Delta Airlines Flight 191, carrying 167 people was tragically involved in a downburst.  Travelling from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles, CA, the flight had a scheduled stop in Dallas, Texas.  On approach, the captain of Flight 191 recognized thunderstorms forming over Louisiana and redirected the flight as to avoid turbulent weather.  However, there was also poor weather in and around Dallas and an isolated thunderstorm had formed very close to the airport.  The first sign of trouble was the First Captain noticing lightning in some clouds they were approaching.  At 800 feet above ground level, the airspeed increased without crew intervention.  The captain ordered the first captain to increase speed and altitude to try to compensate, however the force of the micro-burst was entirely more than the plane could handle.  As the pilots lost control, the plane was forced into a field very close to the runway, and then bounced back into the air. It landed on a very busy highway, killing an oncoming motorist and 136 of the 167 members on board Flight 191. This ranks as one of the most lethal airplane accidents in history.

                I find this story rather amazing.  It is extremely scary, and may change my idea of flying from now on. However, more than anything I’m struck by the fact that it was such a freak accident. Very specific things have to happen for a micro-burst to occur, so for this particular plane to get caught and demolished in the process, can’t be a coincidence.  I’m sure no one on Flight 191 thought August 2 would be there last day to live, nor that the motorist that crashed into the plane on the highway thought it would be his. Yet 136 people lost their lives in entirely freak occurrence events and unpreventable weather forces.  I realize that they have developed more sophisticated wind detecting radars since this incident, but it is still frightening to think that now airplanes just go around micro-bursts if they occur.  This still seems very dangerous to even toy with flying in potential micro-bursts because of their awesome power. 

Article Link:

Air Disaster: Delta Flight 191 

Greater Relief Efforts Still Needed in Pakistan

          

               In the last week, the United Nations requested a record 2 billion dollars for further emergency relief efforts.  Haiti, the last record holder, only solicited 1.5 billion.  This massive relief effort comes from the displacement of over 20 million Pakistani people that were left homeless after the flooding.  Although less than two thousand people have died as a result of the flooding, the dangers for epidemics and malnutrition are rampant.  The new appeal for 2 billion dollars includes the previously supplied funds originally sought of 460 million dollars.  There is a desperate need to set up medical relief camps, reestablish agriculture establishments, and provide sanitary drinking water.  Diseases have already been spreading rapidly, due to the lack of unclean water, and will continue to take over unless there is strong intervention.  These efforts are extremely costly and dangerous however, as flooding continues to sweep across the nation.  Approximately 1.9 million homes have been destroyed by the flooding along with thousands of farms and businesses causing many to be completely dependent on aid, possibly through 2012. Although commitments for funding have been made and some fulfilled, much is still needed to help Pakistan to get back on its feet.

              This article makes me wonder what the meteorological explanation is as to why the flooding has continued over Pakistan for such a long time. I also wonder why there hasn’t been such extensive damage like this before if it is caused by climate or location issues. I think due to the continuing circumstances in Pakistan, these storms that have caused the flooding must not have been adequately predicted by weather professionals or they might have been able to evacuate some of the people from the storm path. Whatever the reasons or causes for the storm and whether or not they were preventable really doesn’t matter at this point, so long as efforts are made to recover from the damage. 

Article Link:

UN Seeks Record 2 Billion Dollars for Pakistan Disaster 

The Impact of La Nina

      Due to an abnormal cooling in the tropical Pacific Ocean, La Nina the climate phenomenon, is strengthening and persisting longer than anticipated.  So far La Nina seems to be the cause of Tropical Storm Hermine and Tropical Storm Igor.  The NOAA is speculating that La Nina gained strength in August and could potentially last till the beginning of 2011. The center stated that,“ "La Nina can contribute to increased Atlantic hurricane activity by decreasing the vertical wind shear over the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic Ocean," thus creating more tropical storms and hurricanes. La Nina has the potential to alter regular wind patterns, rainfall, and air pressure. The Tropical Storm Hermine that hit Texas, did extensive damage to the San Antonio area with severe flooding.  Judging by the already busy hurricane season, we can expect that La Nina will produce many more tropical storms and hurricanes over the next few months.

      I find it strange that our Earth is so sensitive that occurrences such as La Nina or El Nino can make subtle changes that vastly affect the weather.  I also think it’s odd that these weather phenomena cycle periodically. I don’t really understand how over four or seven years certain things happen to trigger La Nina or El Nino that inevitably can do crazy things to the weather.  I remember many years ago, there were a great deal of storms in and around Texas, where I was living, that everyone constantly blamed on El Nino.  I found it very mysterious that some sort of weather occurrence in the Pacific was causing all of the extreme storms we were experiencing.  Even now, it seems that El Nino and La Nina are not entirely predictable to the NOAA, as the article stated that the computer climate models didn’t totally agree on how strong La Nina will be and what it will produce.  I find it interesting that amongst all of our technological advances, there are still certain things about our weather that can’t be totally predicted. 

Article Link:

Strengthening La Nina Could Mean More Hurricanes 

Hurricane Earl's Potential Threat

        States along the eastern seaboard are bracing for the impact of hurricane Earl this weekend. Even Canadian provinces may experience the vast rains brought on by the powerful hurricane. There are various possibilities in the size and strength at which the storm could make landfall, but it is important for people living on the eastern seaboard to be prepared for anything. Hurricane Juan in 2003, did extensive damage to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, forcing the regions to take all viable threats seriously. The article states that, “As of Wednesday, water temperature south of Halifax stood at 21 degrees C, two degrees warmer than it was before Hurricane Juan's arrival.” This means that if the water is warmer, its heat energy could sustain the hurricane. If the water is already warmer then the deadly Juan hurricane, Earl could have drastic effects as well. Officials at power companies and the Canadian Red Cross are already preparing for the worst and encouraging their residents to do the same.


       I think this article raises a great point, that although the Canadian provinces see less hurricanes, due to colder water temperatures, they still have to be prepared and forewarned unlike in the destruction of hurricane Juan. Hurricane Juan killed eight people and left hundreds of thousands without power, thus although they have fewer hurricanes things can happen that allow the hurricanes to make landfall in the Northeast. Residents of these areas should heed the warnings of the Red Cross and other local authorities and adequately prepare themselves and their homes for the incoming hurricane Earl. When people anticipate the worst and prepare for power outages and bad weather, there is a much less chance of death or injury and perpetual inconvenience. Though Earl has the potential to be worse than hurricane Juan, it sounds like local authorities and agencies are more adequately prepared than they were for the damages in 2003.

Emergency Officials bracing for Hurricane Earl