(Photo by Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images). They then produce coral cuttings which are grown in a "coral nursery" and compared to other colonies studying the resilience capacity of coral. They are currently working on "resilient corals", The teams of PhD Laetitia Hédouin identify, mark and perform genetic analysis of corals, which are not impacted by thermal stress. The marine biologist teams of CRIOBE (Centre for Island Research and Environmental Observatory) are specialists in the study of coral ecosystems. Major bleaching is currently occurring on the coral reefs of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. This level of storm surge will likely cause severe coastal erosion and “large boats could be torn from moorings” according to the weather service.įRENCH POLYNESIA - SOCIETY ARCHIPELAGO - MAY 09: A diver looks at the coral reefs of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. Storm surge fatalities are historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths within the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Up to 70% of the island’s foliage could be ripped away by Mawar’s powerful winds.Īn exceptional storm surge up to 25 feet will pose a significant risk to life and property on the island, especially in the most vulnerable coastal locations near the eyewall. “Electricity and water may be unavailable for days and perhaps weeks after the storm passes” and “most trees will be snapped or uprooted,” the weather service in Guam warned. Extensive roof damage is possible, along with flying projectiles that are lofted into the air by the powerful winds. The most devastating hurricanes could double by 2050 in nearly all regions of world, scientists sayĪs winds teeter near Category 5 strength, considerable damage is likely to buildings that are not reinforced with concrete, forecasters warned. “Guam will see devastating impacts from Typhoon Mawar,” the National Weather Service in Guam said. Such a slow pace would lead to prolonged impacts from the winds and greater amounts of rainfall. The storm’s forward movement slowed to 6 mph Wednesday morning. Fluctuations in strength still were possible Wednesday morning, and the storm is expected to remain very intense as it moves over Guam towards the west and northwest over the next several days. That’s down from 155 mph earlier, which at the time gave it super typhoon status (sustained winds of at least 150 mph).įorecasters had warned that Mawar could reach the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane – sustained winds in excess of 157 mph – before landfall. Mawar’s maximum sustained winds were 140 mph early Wednesday, the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. It is expected to strike the island – and possibly make a direct landfall – on Wednesday afternoon, local time (late Tuesday or early Wednesday, Eastern Time).Īs of early Wednesday local time, Mawar’s center was 80 miles from Guam, and conditions were deteriorating quickly as the storm’s outer bands moved through the area and the core of the storm approached. Mawar has been described as “one that will be remembered for decades,” said Landon Aydlett, the warning coordination meteorologist from the weather service in Guam. The typhoon, which strengthened rapidly in recent days, is posing a “triple threat” of devastation including deadly winds equivalent to at least a Category 4 hurricane, exceptional storm surge and torrential rainfall, according to the National Weather Service office in Guam. Typhoon Mawar was barreling toward Guam early Wednesday, threatening to slam into the US territory as the strongest storm there in decades.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |