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Boston Globe
15 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Erin overshot every model to reach ‘extreme' rapid intensity. What is making these storms so threatening?
The hurricane, now a Category 4 storm, is regenerating as it expands into a powerful force of nature. Erin was located just east of the Bahamas on Monday and had sustained winds of 140 miles per hour and tropical storm-force winds reaching out 230 miles, the National Hurricane Center said Advertisement 'Erin's intensification was pretty remarkable,' said Andy Hazelton, a hurricane researcher with the University of Miami. 'It got better organized [Friday] night and then just exploded overnight (Friday).' Advertisement Erin had a very tight core, which allowed the winds to accelerate quickly like a figure skater closing their arms, rotating faster around a central point. Another way to look at it is when you have a large carousel at a theme park versus a smaller one in a children's park. Circulating around a central point is faster with the smaller carousel. Erin was a small storm that simply blew up around that smaller, tighter rotation. 'Extreme rapid intensification' was exactly what happened in 2023 with Hurricane Lee, which shattered the 35-mile-per-hour standard for rapid intensification by increasing winds by 80 miles per hour. The number of hurricanes undergoing "extreme rapid intensification" is increasing. Climate Central The ocean's rising temperatures, ranging from 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to 4 degrees above average), have provided the necessary fuel for storms to dramatically strengthen, a consequence of a warming planet, forecasters and researchers say. 'It was in an environment with extremely warm waters and minimal wind shear, and there is even warmer water ahead of it,' said Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgia's atmospheric sciences program and former president of the Boston-based American Meteorological Society. 'That extra heat comes back to manifest itself at some point, and one of the ways it does is through stronger hurricanes,' Shepherd said. Atlantic sea-surface temperatures where Hurricane Erin has been traversing are running 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (3 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit). Tropical Tidbits 'We've seen a lot of rapid intensification cases in recent years: Milton, Helene, Ian, Ida, Laura, Dorian, Michael, etc.,' Hazelton said. 'Research is ongoing, but studies do suggest RI will be more likely in a warming climate, even if the total number of hurricanes remains about the same.' Shepherd noted that a Advertisement Erin went through explosive intensification Friday into Saturday. Hot seas, low wind shear, tight core all allowed an 80 mph jump in wind speeds in less than 24 hours! Growing in numbers The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season saw seven hurricanes rapidly intensify, the most since 2020, when 10 of the 13 hurricanes underwent rapid intensification multiple times during their lifespans. Similarly, last hurricane season delivered 34 individual episodes of rapid intensification, nearly doubling the average number during a typical hurricane season in the past decade. Hurricanes Beryl, Helene, Milton, Isaac, Kirk, Rafael, and Oscar all underwent rapid intensification multiple times. Seven hurricanes went through rapid intensification during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season - the most since 2020. NOAA About 80 percent of major hurricanes undergo rapid intensification throughout their development. The combination of low wind shear and plenty of hot, moist air from the warm ocean water is like flicking a match onto gasoline — the atmosphere ignites. As oceans continue to warm, the fuel source will just continue to grow more potent for storms to explode. In the case of Hurricane Erin, it struggled early on as a tropical storm to gain enough strength through a large plume of Saharan dust. But after shaking the moisture-wicking dry air, Erin entered more favorable conditions for quick strengthening, exploding into a very intense storm. Rapid intensification is more common than we think with hurricanes, especially with global warming. Climate Central These kinds of storms have increased in number in recent decades. Since the early 1980s, a tropical storm or hurricane is now five times more likely to rapidly intensify, growing to one in three storms now likely to see an explosive build-up. That brings us to what climatology tells us and what might be coming down the pike. August typically sees a massive leap in rapid intensification episodes, with the most occurring in September, when sea-surface temperatures across the Atlantic are at their highest for the season. 'Mid-to-late August is exactly when we start paying super close attention to the waves coming off Africa… that's when the Saharan dust also starts to go away,' no longer impeding a storm's development, said Brian McNoldy, a senior researcher with the University of Miami. Advertisement If the chances and frequency of rapidly intensifying hurricanes keep increasing, then naturally so do the chances for more landfalls at greater strength. The percentage of all Atlantic rapid intensification events each month during a hurricane season. CSU Rapidly intensifying storms make hurricane forecasting so vital, especially during the height of hurricane season, which ranges from August to October, and peaks on Sept. 10. Although predicting when a storm will experience such intensification is extremely difficult, forecasting accuracy has dramatically improved since the early 2000s. 'Around 2010, the idea that you could have 70% detection of rapid intensification at 24 hours (as the National Hurricane Center did last year) would have been unheard of,' said Hazelton. Meteorologist and Globe correspondent Chris Gloninger and Marianne Mizera of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Ken Mahan can be reached at
Newsweek
16 minutes ago
- Newsweek
The US-China New Space Race Is Intensifying
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The space race between the United States and China is intensifying, with both countries conducting rocket activities in their contest for dominance outside Earth's atmosphere. On August 12, the U.S. military carried out its first National Security Space Launch with a newly certified rocket. Three days later, China conducted the first static fire test of a new rocket intended for its manned lunar landing missions, which it plans to carry out before the end of the decade. Why It Matters Space, once seen as a peaceful domain, has again become part of the competition among great powers. The U.S. established the Space Force amid growing threats from Russia and China, which have been accused of militarizing space. In addition to military developments in space, the U.S. and China are racing to be the first to return humans to the moon—a historic achievement that former NASA astronaut Colonel Terry Virts warned could determine whether the 21st century belongs to the U.S. or China. What To Know According to the U.S. Space Force, a Vulcan rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on its inaugural National Security Space Launch mission, delivering demonstrations and experiments, including a navigation satellite, into orbit for the Pentagon. A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on August 12 on its first National Security Space Launch mission. A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on August 12 on its first National Security Space Launch mission. United Launch Alliance The National Security Space Launch program uses commercial launch services to deploy satellites for communications; positioning, navigation, and timing; missile warning and tracking; and space situational awareness for the military and intelligence community. In late March, the Vulcan rocket—developed and operated by Colorado-based United Launch Alliance—was certified to deliver national security satellites into orbit, joining SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy as the third rocket certified for such missions. On Friday, the China Manned Space Agency announced that the Long March-10 carrier rocket successfully completed a static fire test at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan, the country's southern island province, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. During the test, seven engines of the rocket's first stage were ignited, producing almost 1,000 tons of thrust while the rocket remained attached to the launch mount. The event evaluated the engines' simultaneous performance under different conditions, according to the agency. China's Long March-10 carrier rocket, the country's new-generation manned launch vehicle, conducts the first static fire test at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province, China, on August 15. China's Long March-10 carrier rocket, the country's new-generation manned launch vehicle, conducts the first static fire test at Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province, China, on August 15. VCG via AP While the Long March-10 rocket is designed for China's manned lunar exploration missions, its sister variant, the shorter Long March-10A rocket, is also under development and is set to be used for missions carrying astronauts and cargo to the country's space station. What People Are Saying The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command said in a news release on August 13: "Assured Access to Space executes the U.S. Space Force's core function of Space Access, performing the space lift and range control missions. It secures reliable and responsive launch services to deploy the space-based capabilities needed by our Nation's warfighters, intelligence professionals, decision makers, allies and partners." The China Manned Space Agency announced on August 15: "The Long March-10 series rockets will be fully utilized in the country's manned spaceflight program, working in tandem with the Mengzhou manned spacecraft to achieve the upgrading of China's manned space-Earth round-trip transportation system." What Happens Next Facing China's rapidly growing space capabilities, it remains to be seen whether the U.S.—including the military, NASA and commercial service providers—will maintain its space dominance.
Newsweek
16 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Republicans Pull 'Deport Depot' Merch After Home Depot Complains
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Republican Party of Florida has removed a line of merchandise after the items drew scrutiny for mimicking Home Depot's branding. The merchandise, called "The Deport Depot," included shirts, hats, and other items featuring a logo closely resembling the home improvement retailer's signature orange box and stenciled font. "We don't allow any organization to use our branding or logo for their commercial purposes," Sarah McDonald a spokesperson for The Home Depot told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the Florida GOP for comment via email. A Home Depot store is shown, in Bensalem, Pa., on March 14, 2022. A Home Depot store is shown, in Bensalem, Pa., on March 14, 2022. Matt Rourke/AP Why It Matters The merchandise was linked to a new immigrant detention facility recently announced by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. The facility, named the "Deportation Depot," is intended to house individuals detained for immigration violations. DeSantis unveiled the center earlier this month as part of his administration's broader efforts to increase immigration enforcement in Florida. The state of Florida has already opened up and begun detaining migrants in the highly talked about Alligator Alcatraz facility. What To Know Beth Marlowe, a spokesperson for The Home Depot, told the Tampa Bay Times that the company had not authorized the Florida GOP to use its branding or logo on any merchandise. Following the company's objection, the party removed the items from its website and discontinued their sale. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the items remained available for purchase as of Saturday, priced between $15 and $28, with each sale counted as a political contribution to the state's GOP. Both the merchandise and a related post on X were taken down a few hours after the story was first published by the outlet. The "Deport Depot" line marked the Florida Republicans' latest effort to monetize the state's immigration crackdown through merchandise. It wasn't the first time the party tied fundraising to policy rollouts. When DeSantis announced the opening of the Everglades-based "Alligator Alcatraz" detention facility, the GOP, including state Attorney General James Uthmeier, quickly followed with branded shirts, hats, and buttons. Meanwhile, Home Depot has emerged as a notable battleground in the Trump administration's plans to carry out mass deportations. Its stores and parking lots have long served as gathering places for day laborers, many of whom are undocumented. The presence of these workers has made the retailer particularly visible amid aggressive deportation efforts, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement arresting individuals at these locations. According to data from Zippia, approximately 19 percent of Home Depot employees identify as Hispanic or Latino. The company employs over 500,000 individuals, A man was struck and killed on a Southern California freeway Thursday while fleeing a federal immigration raid at a Home Depot, authorities have said. What People Are Saying Home Depot spokesperson Beth Marlowe told the Tampa Bay Times: "We have reached out to the RPOF to try to resolve this issue." Communications Director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Adriana Rivera told Newsweek: "The Governor's own words reveal the callousness of his agenda. By calling this jail a 'deportation depot,' DeSantis is reducing human beings to commodities—objects that can be warehoused, processed, and shipped away. Such language and policy choices strip people of their humanity, erasing their families, histories, and fundamental dignity. All of that on top of laughing at the location where many heads of households find work to put food on the table for their families in an honest way." Florida attorney Raul Gastesi, partner at Gastesi, Lopez, Mestre & Cobiella told Newsweek: "Trademark law protects against both consumer confusion and the dilution of a brand's reputation. When a political organization uses a logo that closely resembles a well-known mark on items it sells, the issue becomes less about parody and more about commercial use, which courts take seriously. In these situations, companies are well within their rights to object, even if the underlying message relates to political speech." "Courts generally recognize parody as protected speech when it's noncommercial commentary, but once the logo is placed on merchandise that's sold, even for fundraising, it shifts into commercial use. That distinction is important because it increases the risk of trademark infringement and dilution claims."
