Hurricanes and Sea Surface Temperature

Sea Surface Temperature SST

Sea Surface Temperature (SST) image for the global ocean, based on data gathered on September 24, 2009. Blue and green colors indicate cooler waters (less than 15.6°C [60°F]) while orange and red colors, outlined by the black curves, indicate warmer waters (at least 26.5°C [~80°F]). (Image courtesy of the Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison.)

Sea Surface Temperature and Hurricane Development Analysis

The pictures below are average sea surface temperature for the years 1971-2000 during the North Atlantic hurricane season. Examine the sea surface graphics, noting the month and body of water, Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/sst/         Monthly Mean Climatology Fields (1971-2000)

June
July
June
July
August
September
August
September
October
November
October
November

 

US Hurricane Strikes with Intensity by Year

Strikes by Year

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/images/tracks/majors_2001_2010.jpg

 

Cold Sea Surface Temperature Wake Left by Hurricane Igor in 2010

Image Courtesy: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration