Tag Archives: New York City

Blanket of Fog Rolls out over NYC

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Philip Orton

A cold, damp blanket of fog snuffed out our heavenly 70+ degree afternoon today in New York City, to the thrill of some and disgust of others, mainly depending on who was wearing shorts-and-tees.  The temperature at Kennedy Airport was … Continue reading →

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Rain- and Wind-Driven Coastal Flooding

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Philip Orton

I’ve been receiving automated notifications on coastal flooding from the Storm Surge Warning System today.  The nor’easter that is hitting us is packing 20-40 mile per hour winds, and driving water against our shorelines.  Water levels are expected to peak … Continue reading →

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Airborne plume dispersion in coastal areas

Posted on March 14, 2011 by juliepullen

New York City, like most megacities including Tokyo, does not have mechanisms in place to evacuate the population of the entire city.  Even the direst catastrophic scenarios entail a strategy of sheltering in place for at least some of the … Continue reading →

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Can NYC Beaches get Swallowed by the Sea in a Storm?

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Philip Orton

There’s some recent alarming news yet simultaneously comforting news for those in the New York City region concerned about coastal flooding.  On one hand, two geologists have assembled a 2000-year record of hurricane storm surges that washed over the area’s … Continue reading →

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New York Harbor Seals

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Philip Orton

I went on an amazing annual boat tour on Saturday, put on by the Audubon Society, called Winter Seals and Water Birds.  About a hundred or so participants cruised out of South Street Seaport on a Water Taxi, past Red … Continue reading →

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The NYC Storm Surge Threat

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Philip Orton

New York City is highly vulnerable to a hurricane strike due to its location near the coast where winds and storm surges are usually at their maximum.  On one hand, we are fortunate that direct hurricane strikes are extremely rare … Continue reading →

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The scientific significance of the only hurricane ever to directly hit NYC

Posted on February 9, 2011 by SeaAndSkyNY

This is a guest post from Bruce Parker, Visiting Professor, Center for Maritime Systems, Stevens Institute of Technology, and author of the recent book The Power of the Sea – Tsunamis, Storm Surges, Rogue Waves, and Our Quest to Predict … Continue reading →

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The Big Stink: II. Scents and the Weather

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Philip Orton

Weather conditions can promote or inhibit bad smells in an urban area.  Warm weather can increase bacterial decomposition of organic matter, which under certain conditions can produce sulfurous smells – this is why it often reeks when you walk past … Continue reading →

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Earthquake = Tsunami?

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Philip Orton

A mild 3.9-magnitude earthquake occurred this morning out at sea off the New York Bight, and was felt by many people across the region.  An obvious question is whether such an earthquake could cause a tsunami.  A large tsunami clearly … Continue reading →

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OceaNYC

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Philip Orton

Most people are surprised an oceanographer would bother living in New York City. Before I moved here, I was aware that the Hudson River typically runs brackish for at least its lower 20 miles, but I too failed to comprehend … Continue reading →

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