Storm-Fueling Current May Be Monster-Maker

Gustav Headed For Loop Current Responsible For Katrina's Devastating Strength

(CBS/AP)  The difference between a monster and a wimp for Gulf of Mexico hurricanes often comes down to a small patch of warm deep water that's easy to miss. It is called the Loop Current, and hurricane trackers say Gustav is headed right for it, reminiscent of Katrina.

Gustav is likely to reach this current late Saturday, experts say. What happens next will be crucial, maybe deadly.

If Gustav hits the Loop Current and lingers in that hot spot, watch out. If the storm misses it or zips through the current, then Gustav probably will not be much of a name to remember.

The meandering Loop Current, located in the southeastern gulf, provides loads of hurricane fuel. It was a key stopover for nearly all the Gulf Coast killers of the past, including Katrina and Camille, said Florida International University professor Hugh Willoughby, former director of the government's hurricane research division.

Lynn "Nick" Shay, University of Miami meteorology and oceanography professor, flew over the gulf Thursday in a federal hurricane research plane to measure the Loop Current. He saw Gustav's forecast track going "right down the throat" of it.

"That's kind of the scary part here," Shay said. "You look at this and say, 'Boy I hope this thing doesn't really explode,' but it probably will."

It happened in 2005. "Katrina went over the Loop Current and intensified rapidly," said Mark DeMaria, a Colorado-based expert on hurricane strength with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Then less than a month later a weak tropical storm named Rita followed Katrina into the Loop Current. Thirty hours later it was a Category 5 monster.

Both Katrina and Rita later weakened - which often happens to Category 3 storms by landfall.

In the last several years, meteorologists have focused more attention on the Loop Current, which is only a couple of hundred miles long and not even 100 miles wide. The evidence linking it to the worst storms is beyond circumstantial, Shay said.

What is crucial is the depth of warm water in the current - several hundred feet - because it provides continuous high-octane fuel for a storm. Hurricanes use the heat from the water to grow stronger and in the process they churn up cooler water from below, which then slows or stops the feeding process. But in the Loop Current, the deeper water is also warm and it further feeds the storm.

The Loop Current constantly shifts, growing and shrinking and sending out smaller eddies. It is now starting to contract, but not soon enough.

On Friday, the National Hurricane Center warned: "Gustav is expected to be a large powerful hurricane as it approaches the northern gulf coast."

The one hopeful sign is that on his hurricane flight Thursday, Shay saw a pool of extra cool water north and west of the Loop Current. That could help counteract what he fears will be rapid strengthening.

Gustav plowed toward the Cayman Islands Friday evening as New Orleans officials considered issuing evacuations orders in an effort to avoid repeating Katrina's toll on the city. Gustav has already killed 78 people in the Caribbean.

[questionnews]

Grab your boards cats & kittens!! Surfs up!

[smurfcrusher]

Just in time for the GOP convention! Heck of a job, God! :D

[lmartink]

The Loop Current eh? Does this mean that after all that criticism of Al Gore, that he was right? In his movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" Gore talked about a warm water current intensifying Hurrican Katrina, for which he was broadly attacked and criticised.

Now it looks like it''s a scientific fact. Guess you have to be very careful about who you listen to.

[thibbye]

Gustav is the best friend that the Republicans have. A monumental mistake is going to be ignored for a couple of weeks as the cleanup and the fixing of the blame for the hurricane takes place. McCain screws up and God takes care of him. Must be nice.

[lovesamerica]

I am not sticking up for anyone or being in any way political, but my goodness, look at the tragedies the president has had to deal with in the last 8 years. I only wish that he didn''t have to deal with this new tragedy occuring with the hurricane. How that man can still have hair or smile is beyond me.good luck all in Gustaves path,oh and Hanna looks like a doer too.

[smurfcrusher]

"I am not sticking up for anyone or being in any way political, but my goodness, look at the tragedies the president has had to deal with in the last 8 years. I only wish that he didn''''t have to deal with this new tragedy occuring with the hurricane. How that man can still have hair or smile is beyond me.good luck all in Gustaves path,oh and Hanna looks like a doer too."

Posted by lovesamerica



Life is blissful when you''re not an Intuh-lectual.

Unfortunately the side effect is that you hire horse traders to lead FEMA, and the Constitution becomes merely a "*** piece of paper!"

In light of those facts? Not so surprising.

[smurfcrusher]

the censors apparently don''t approve of Bush''s quote, so I''ll reword it.

The Constitution, according to President George W. Bush, is a "****** piece of paper!"

[whitecat151]

Does anyone here actually watch the weather? Or have any actual knowledge of hurricanes?

The forecast by the NOAA, NWS, NHC all say that depending upon weather events from now (Friday) until then (Tuesday) mean that Gustav could hit anywhere from New Orleans to Galveston.

Katrina was aimed at my front porch in Lafayette, LA, however, at the last moment, some 90-100 miles out, Katrina decided to visit New Orleans.

Get real... leave if you want... especially leave if you should... but don''t assume a storm that''s just now south of Cuba is aimed specifically at New Orleans

[nothappyatall]

Here we go again, another task for "good job Brownie" and the bush cartel to skrew up!
Like I said before, there WILL BE another hurricane and flood in N.O. and the city WILL BE damaged/destroyed as it was in 2005 no matter what they do to those idiotic levys. The city is like 12 FEET below sea level and the land is slowly sinking while the oceans rise.

Smart people would leave and rebuild on high ground, but these are the same idiots who would rebuild next to Mt St Helens

[smurfcrusher]

"Just more of Al Gort''''s hoax of global warming LOL!!!It''''s all Bulls$hit! Stupid libs."

Posted by zgomer


zgomer, did God tell you there is no global warming? ''Cause you certainly don''t base your conclusions on the vast majority of mainstream scientists.

And yes, there ARE a few whack jobs that think it doesn''t exist, just as some people believe the Earth is 5,000 years old and man walked with the dinosaurs (and perhaps, floated them on Noah''s Ark?)

Talk about stupid

[kevsan1]

Smurfcrusher, it''s not a vast majority of mainstream scientists. In fact many scientists listed in the UN report did not sign off on it as falsely stated by a media that often does not know what it is talking about. Most journalists, sadly, do not have the knowledge to report on science. I do not believe Katie, Brian or Charlie have science degrees. And you can bet that most of the news writers, producers and editors who put this stuff out do not as well. In science it takes more than journalism''s 3 sources to prove something.

Do a search on Climate Cooling, The Other Side of Climate Change... you''ll see what real scientists are concerned about... not bureaucrats pretending to be scientists out to gouge you for more tax dollars while they live in their huge mansions and scientists whose funding depends on proving global warming.

Real scientists are disputing the computer models used and there were many much warmer times not caused by man... the middle ages for intance being one of the most recent.

It is a deeper topic than most suspect. Just remember, many places are experiencing cooler summers than the past few years and we had a big temperature drop last year. All while there has been lower solar activity and hardly any sunspots... historically that happens in tandem with cooler weather. The UN bureacrats discounted the sun''s influence on warming. Guess they do not get outside often.

[jcr103]

All you global warming deniers...once again it'' time to pull your heads out of your A**

[allurfears]

Dobson and his crowd were shamefully praying that it rained on Obama during his Thursday speech. Looks like God has a message for these apostates.

[noboundary]

When ice in your glass of water melts, it''s a clear sign that heat has been added to it - unless the laws of Physics don''t apply in your house. So when you see the north polar ice going away, and rapidly, don''t you think that''s plain evidence that the Earth is heating up? Think people!

[noboundary]

And all that added heat is what fuels a monster hurricane, like Camille or perhaps now, Gustav. One can only hope Gustav will hit some cooler water out there - somewhere.

[rheola-2009]

A MAJOR survey of Australians'' views on climate change has found an overwhelming majority think it is happening and they''re prepared to pay to address it.
The study by University of Technology Sydney found Australians wanted to see cuts in the nation''s greenhouse gas emissions irrespective of the actions of other countries.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/money-is-no-object-to-save-planet/2008/08/30/1219516797991.html

[seetheway]

Caused by Man...yes, global warming? No. Caused by sin!

Hosea 4:-31
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites,because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: %u201CThere is no faithfulness, no love,
no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the
field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.
----------------AND----------------------------

The government warns of NO price gouging during the storms, but it''s OK for the oil companies to do it!
Then we wonder why we''re not oil independant. If we had more they''d be just a greedy and still charge more.

Psa 49:15-20
But God will redeem my life from the grave;he will surely take me to himself. Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed%u2014and men praise you when you prosper%u2014he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

[seetheway]

CORRECTION ON VERSE

Hosea 4:-1-3
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites,because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: %u201CThere is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying.

[noboundary]

Here''s what Isaiah has to say in ch. 24:5-6:

The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws,violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth''s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

You see, even Isaiah knew global warming would eventually come - to ultimately burn the earth because no one would heed the warnings!

[mydiatribe]

Ray Nagin, Dumbest & Most Corrupt Mayor in the U.S. ain''t gonna get caught sitting on his thumbs this time!

[rheola-2009]

Posted by noboundary at 09:18 PM : Aug 30, 2008

Isn''t religion wonderful.

It is so ambiguous, any nutter can put their own interpretation on just about any comment from their book of fairy tales,in order that they may in their own totally delusional minds, either blame or praise this totally fabricated God for that such happening.

I will wager they cannot offer any logical evidence in support of this God????????

[notopennshut]

Dobson and company, out of wickedness and evil in their hearts, prayed for destruction to befall those of faith. Instead, his maker saw it fit to show him that those who harbor this kind of evil should be the ones to experience the will of the maker. Go figure!

[smurfcrusher]

"Here''''s what Isaiah has to say in ch. 24:5-6:

The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws,violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth''''s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

You see, even Isaiah knew global warming would eventually come - to ultimately burn the earth because no one would heed the warnings!"

Posted by noboundary


If only I was a Jesus Freak i could point out that after the "great flood" God promised never to inundate the earth with water. The Rainbow is his promise.* Fire will instead consume the Earth.

Of course, the bible was written before Newton and an understanding of refraction and prisms... but I''m "pretty sure!" these physical laws existed before human history. The symbol of the promise existed before the story.

Which makes the flood story.... bogus.


Good thing I''m not a Jesus Freak...

[garbagestopr]

This hurricane could be the worst in history.

[garbagestopr]

rheola-knowing God has never been about "Religion".

That''s why God said not to have any other "gods"(religion) before Him. The first commandment.

"Religion" is manmade. The Lord however is the Truth (John 14:6)

[garbagestopr]

adt14

I have a better idea: You believe in what you want and then respect the rights of others to believe in what they want. You know, that doggon freedom of religion Constitutional right.

[garbagestopr]

Not having a soul has its benefits.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by curse914

Knowing Christ has it''s benefits. Most of all, you know the Truth, and you are redeemed of your sins. Forgiven.

[garbagestopr]

bible = baby flatulence

Posted by adt14

You''re one of the mockers the Bible predicted would come in the last days:

Proverbs 1:22
"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

2 Peter 3:3
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

[garbagestopr]

I hold no belief aka stuperstition aka placebo
Posted by adt14 at 06:52 AM : Aug 31, 2008

Everybody believes in something. You probably believe in the Big Bang, or something like that.

If you say you have "no belief", you are admitting that you believe in nothing.

So you do believe in something. In your case, that "something", is "nothing".

You believe in nothingness.

[garbagestopr]

false profits profits profits
Posted by adt14

God isn''t interested in your money. He''s interested in your heart.

[garbagestopr]

god aka male pronoun
aka adolescent human ego grandiosity
aka self righteous nonsense
Posted by adt14

What would you know about the terms "Self righteous" if you don''t believe in the Bible to begin with?

[garbagestopr]

Proverbs 1:22
"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?


How long adt14?

[garbagestopr]

speak from your own heart bible thumping fool
Posted by adt14

Ok, how long do you plan on mocking Bible believers? How long do you plan on slandering us? How long adt14?


Your belief, by your own admission, is in nothingness.

Fools are the ones who reject God. Psalm 14:1

[garbagestopr]

The Word (Jesus Christ) lives in my heart. I am speaking from my heart.

You are speaking in hatred and intolerance..revealing what''s in your heart.

[garbagestopr]

adt14

What would you know about actual truth and knowledge if you said you don''t have a belief?

If you don''t believe in anything how can you claim to know the Truth?

[garbagestopr]

There is no false promise with Christ. There is only truth.

Obviously you''ve been mistreated your whole life, and now you are taking out your anger and aggression on a public message forum expressing the hatred that''s in your heart, specifically towards Bible believing Christians.

You can''t answer the questions. Nuff said.

[raskal_2]

Getting wet yet??? As the old timers used to say, Good blow...

[timfitz42]

Don''t know why my posts keep getting removed.

Maybe we could keep the comments on the subject of the headline please? Hurricanes happened before global warming and will happen long after we''re gone, nor are they all signs of the apocalypse.

[noboundary]

Hurricanes thrive on heat, so when you add more heat, the hurricanes just keep getting more powerful. So yes, we had hurricanes before global warming, but now they are just able to gather more strength.

About global warming, it is for real - just track how the north polar ice continues to melt away - that wouldn''t be happening unless more heat is added to the system (simple physics!)

[timfitz42]

Ummm ... you are aware of something called the Gulf Stream right? A section of warmer faster moving water that''s been there for a few hundred mellenia and tends to give power to hurricances ... like I said not EVERYTHING is a sign of global warming.

[noboundary]

Since I used to live nearby where Gustav is about to hit, I know all about the Gulf Stream. Without it, the Gulf waters would be even warmer still.

Fact: Ocean temperatures, on average, are getting higher - evidence is the melting polar cap.
Fact: Hurricanes are driven by heat
Fact: If more heat is available in the right place, which the article discusses, then you can expect more powerful hurricanes.

For sure, Global warming is not going to help things, only hurt.

[txgrouch2006]

Hurricanes thrive on heat, so when you add more heat, the hurricanes just keep getting more powerful. So yes, we had hurricanes before global warming, but now they are just able to gather more strength.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by noboundary at 03:46 PM : Aug 31, 2008

Update - Gustav has now passed "The Loop," and it is only a category 3 hurricane, not the cat 5 that had been predicted. It is not forecast to intensify much before first landfall tomorrow afternoon.

Sorry to disappoint you, gloom and doomers. But this one is not turning into the monster storm that was predicted.

New Orleans will get drenched again, plus there will be a large storm surge. I expect the storm will bounce off the coastline or follow the coastline, due to the shallow angle of the storm track to the coast. It will probably go inland along the eastern Texas coast, between Port Arthur and Galveston.

But if I lived in Port Arthur, I''d be gone already. They still have storm damage from the last hurricane.

[timfitz42]

Look, I am a believer of global warming. The evidence is obvious to me. But just because hurricanes hit the gulf coast during HURRICANE SEASON doesn''t suggest ANYTHING about global warming ... this is the standard for this time of year reaching all the way back to pre-human days. You want to point at the melting ice caps and say, "That''s global warming" then I''ll agree with you. Just don''t label every rain drop that falls as a sign of greenhouse gases.