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December 2021 - News from Our Coasts
NEWS & UPDATES FOR DECEMBER Updates from US Harbors News & Virtual Events from Our Partners Updates from Our Coastal Business Community Photos of the Month Updates from US Harbors Last month, US Harbors hosted an online conference to help coastal communities--and their citizens--understand and prepare for changes in coastal… SEE MORE
New Research Finds Salt May Be Key to Predicting Hurricane Intensity
By Mike Schuler. It’s no secret that salt has played an outsized role throughout human history. Now, new research conducted by NOAA, with the help from Saildrone’s unmanned surface vehicles, says the element could potentially lead to improved forecasts of the most dangerous hurricanes. While NOAA has made steady progress… SEE MORE
Gulf and Atlantic Grouper and Snapper Season Changes Starting Jan. 1
Several species of grouper and snapper will either open or close to harvest in Gulf and Atlantic state waters starting Jan. 1. Red grouper will reopen to recreational harvest in Gulf state waters (excluding Monroe County). Blackfin, silk, queen and wenchman snappers will reopen to recreational and commercial harvest in… SEE MORE
What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?
By Alison Eldridge. You may know that the solstices and equinoxes signal the changing of the seasons on Earth, but do you remember which is which? Are they just different names for the same thing? Actually, a solstice and an equinox are sort of opposites. The seasons on Earth change because the planet is… SEE MORE
Last Full Moon of 2021 Rises Just Before Winter Solstice
By Steve Novak. The moon gave us a few reasons to look up in 2021. There were supermoons and a lunar eclipse in the spring. A partial solar eclipse in June. A clear view of another lunar eclipse in November. This weekend, the last full moon of 2021 will illuminate one of the year’s longest nights. The next full… SEE MORE
New Ocean Floats to Boost Global Weather, Climate Research Network
NOAA and partners have joined together to launch approximately 100 new Argo floats across the Atlantic Ocean to collect data that supports ocean, weather and climate research and prediction. These will bolster the international Argo Program, which maintains a global array of about 3,800 floats that measure pressure, temperature, and salinity of the… SEE MORE
New Right Whale Slow Zone East of Ocean City, Maryland
On December 11, 2021, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's acoustic array detected the presence of right whales east of Ocean City, Maryland. A VOLUNTARY Right Whale Slow Zone is in effect immediately and expires on December 26, 2021. Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less… SEE MORE
In New Maritime Freight Plan, NYC Hopes To Distribute Packages By Boat
By Sophia Chang. In the city’s quest to handle increasing volumes of freight pouring into the five boroughs while preserving the aging infrastructure, Mayor Bill de Blasio has a plan: look to the water. In his “Delivering Green” program unveiled Wednesday, de Blasio said New York City will make maritime shipping a bigger part… SEE MORE
Manatee Feeding Program Ready as Winter Tests Survival
By Curt Anderson. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — As winter approaches Florida, a pilot feeding plan could save many manatees from starvation — but they will still face the long-term threat of manmade water pollution stifling their food supply, wildlife officials said Wednesday. The slow-moving marine mammals will soon begin… SEE MORE
Rising with the Tide: Keeping Our Communities Above Water Q&A
US Harbors recently hosted "Rising with the Tide: Keeping Our Communities Above Water"; a free conference for coastal communities. Our panel of experts included John Englander, Renee Collini, David Wolcott, Joseph Sutkowi, Gayle Bowness, Heiko Udluft and Nicole Elko. During the conference we discussed pressing issues facing our coastal communities:… SEE MORE
Rain, Snow Fall as California Braces for Brunt of Storm
By Felicia Fonseca. The Western U.S. is bracing for the brunt of a major winter storm expected to hit Monday, bringing travel headaches, the threat of localized flooding and some relief in an abnormally warm fall. Light rain and snow fell in Northern California on Sunday, giving residents a taste… SEE MORE
11 Million New Oysters in New York Harbor (but None for You to Eat)
By Karen Zraick. The restoration of New York Harbor has reached a new milestone as 2021 draws to a close: 11.2 million juvenile oysters have been added in the past six months to a section of the Hudson River off the coast of Lower Manhattan, where they are helping to filter… SEE MORE