Offshore Buoy 44008 Loose and On the Move-Portugal?

Here we go again. Another of the NOAA/NDBC weather buoys, 44008,  has broken loose from its location SE of Nantucket and is drifting towards Europe. It joins (2) other buoys, both the original 44066/TexasTower 4 and its replacement, each which broke loose 18 months ago and are drifting Eastward as well.Now we have (3) bright yellow buoys working their way towards Europe. The first two are non functional at this time but the 44008 is transmitting its data payload regularly.While not particularly useful where it is currently located about 600 miles from its original mooring, seeing its data is interesting in terms of ocean observations and conditions. It is cool to envision what seas it may be crossing and what ships, fish and other long lost ship debris they may pass.

You can see the small "x" on the left image which indicates the original position of 44008, and the "x" on the right of both images indicating today's, March 22, position. The image on the left is from the Maracoos site and shows the underwater typography and the other image is from Rutgers Cool Room showing the dark band of the Gulf Stream as well as patchy colorful areas of warmer 66 degree water.

Right now is is drifting along the 39th latitude parallel which is the northernmost edge of the Gulf Stream. Not surprising is the fact that both other buoys worked their way along this same edge since the currents are perpetually similar. Under the water where 44008 is now drifting near the line of seamounts that dot the area in the deep off the continental shelf. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Seamount_chain) ( Bear, Kelvin and Manning mounts).
This area is a major underwater crossroads for the warm waters of the Gulf and the cold waters of the Antarctic which clash here and produce the vibrant south west moving eddies that hold our bait and pelagic game fish we all love to hunt throughout the season.

If the buoys that broke loose back in 2009-10 and the current 44008  continue their general direction, they all would be found eventually along some stretch of beach along Portugal's coast. Would be fascinating, no doubt, to be beach combing one day and find of of these large buoys resting on the sand nearby. Does this find count as salvage? Does finders keepers? We'll have to wait and see what Maritime law comes into play if and when they are found.

But the real downside to this new buoy break-off is the lack of important data that it sends to the National Weather Service and to mariners who ply the offshore waters. These buoys, along with several others that are moored between 20 and 100 miles offshore are the backbone of our weather forecasts and hourly sea conditions reports we find online.

The National Data Buoy Center is responsible for the servicing of these buoys. According to the NDBC maintenance schedule this buoy is intended to be recovered from its drift. But if past experience is any indication, a newly build one will be deployed sometime within a year from now. You may follow the current schedule here http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/ops.shtml .

In the meanwhile, if any of you intend to visit Europe by oceanliner this year or plan to be in the Azores or Portugal, keep an eye out and let me know if you are the first to sight one of these important buoys.

44066/TexasTower4 NDBC Buoy Back in Action

Gotta thank NDBC/NOAA/NWS for getting the 44066/TT4 buoy back in the water over the weekend. This is the third actual deployment since first dropped in the water in June 2009. A series of mis-haps lead to two of them floating away and three repair service calls. A very important buoy for all mariners transiting the ATLANTIC  and working the offshore fishing grounds.
This re-deployment was no small effort given the state of economy and ever cutting back on resources. We got in right before sequestration cuts will begin to affect so many of our services. So, once again, let's give a thumbs up to the NDBC in particular.
It is so nice once again,  to be able to visualize what is happening out there even if we can't gt there or want to at this time.


Here is a copy of some of the observations of an hour or so ago, 7:50 am Feb 27 in the midst of an unusually windy day both on land (30-40knots) and sea.
Nothing like a fixed instrument to make you feel good again.
Here is data from this am from 44066.
Not a good day to be tile fishing!

Station 44066 - Texas Tower #4 - 75 NM East of Long Beach, NJ Image indicating link to RSS feed of recent meteorological observations for station 44066

39.584 N 72.600 W (39°35'1" N 72°35'59" W)

Sea temp depth: 0.6 m below site elevation
Water depth: 82.3 m

Regional HF Radar Surface Current Observations
Conditions at 44066 as of
(7:50 am EST)
1250 GMT on 02/27/2013:
Unit of Measure: Time Zone:
Wind Direction (WDIR): SE 130
Wind Speed (WSPD): 19.4 kts
Wind Gust (GST): 25.3 kts
Wave Height (WVHT): 17.4 ft

Air Temperature (ATMP): 54.3 °F

FOR MORE NDBC BUOYS INFORMATION GOTO
 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44066

FOR MORE OCEAN OBSERVING INFORMATION BY REGION GOTO
www.ioos.gov

TO READ REGULAR BLOG AND PERSONAL BIGMAHI OBSERVATIONS FOLLOW ME
@bigmahi on Twitter

Let Freedom and Civility Ring

Today is a day for Civil Rights. Not in the strict sense of the words of racial equality but more of freedom of speech,

and being civil with each other.

We have been in a constant sea change of social ways and interactions since the beginning of our Country. Yes, we are a divided country politically with harsh words and sometimes unnecessary cruelness, but today is a day deserving of civility. Today we celebrate another Presidential Inauguration. Something as a country we have the deepest roots and appreciation of our beginning and our future.

We witness the great traditions of welcoming a new presidential term. Watching TV we can see tens of thousands of Americans lined up all along the motorcade route waiting to catch a glimpse of the first Afro-American President who won the electorate over not just once but twice.

This speaks to the innate civility and belief in optimism that Americans are bound together on a day like this. It shows that despite our differences on a daily basis, we come together for a day of celebration of our values in freedom, free speech and fairness.

We have passed the torch of change again. Marin Luther King and others spoke of having a dream. On a day such as today, we all are dreaming of a better life. The President will speak to our reality and of our dream for the coming four years.

Let us all offer the President, leaders, our neighbors, family and friends our warmest form of support on this day.

Let Freedom and civility ring loud and clear.

52nd Anniversary of Collapse of Texas Tower 4 and death of 28 Men

Today is the 52^nd Anniversary of the collapse of Texas Tower 4 (TT4) and the death of 28 seamen on January 15, 1961, 75 miles offshore of NYNJ. TT4 was the closest of (3) offshore Defense Early Warning System (DEWS) structures located along the Mid-Atlantic coast.

It was crippled from the start with a bad third leg which was repaired a few times but ultimately failed during a horrible Nor’easter on January 15, 1961. This unique structure was initially deployed to watch the skies for a surprise Russian invasion and to offer the mainland an early warning of potential invasion.

Located in 180 feet of water and standing just 90 feet high above the sea surface, waves and winds buffeted the tower during that storm. Helicopters and emergency vessels were called in but to no avail. The weather was too extreme to undertake an emergency rescue. 28 men were aboard the doomed tower and radioed SOS calls repeatedly. After several transmissions one short burst of a call for help the radio ashore went silent and they were never heard from again. The tower collapsed and is now a mound of rubble.

In 2009, the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) which is part of NOAA placed a 24/7 in water weather buoy named 44066/Texas Tower 4 in recognition of these men. In 2011 President Obama officially recognized their service to this country.

At time of this writing the 44066/TT4 buoy has been ripped from its mooring two times by severe weather that regularly occurs in this location during the winter months. The third replacement is tentatively scheduled for deployment in February of this year.

It is the first offshore buoy at the Hudson Canyon dedicated to the safety and well being of all

LI, NJ, RI, CT and Mass Mid-Atlantic offshore mariners. The approximate location is 39.35N 072.36W or about 75 miles from NY Harbor. This buoy transmits sea wave height, wind speed and direction as well as water temperature which are important climate data to all mariners.

This deployment is the success of collaboration between government and stakeholders.

The U.S. integrated ocean observing system (IOOS), in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (MACOORA/Maracoos), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) are proud to be partners in announcing this re-positioned and important continental shelf buoy placement.

This buoy honors these men who served their country in the early moments of Homeland Security”.

Additional interest information:

-http://youtu.be/hzUQwy7bhjo  Weather Buoy Dedication aboard USCG Cutter Elm

 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44066

-http://texastower.com/

-http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/TexasTower.html

-http://www.cgi2you.com/members/message/texastowerassoc/45.shtml

-http://museumofnjmh.org/texastowerpresentation.html   (NJ)

-http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-jersey/1433047-texas-tower-4-a.html (NJ)

-http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f9/pres-obama-officially-recognizes-fallen-men-texas-tower-4-a-1210018.html

#121212concert Part B or White Boy NOT in Paris

Ok, so I feel like a shit.
Why?
Because I trashed Kayne on FB yesterday. Now I feel bad since he seems like a good guy.
Here's why:
I was working JFK yesterday.The Air France 7:10 flight, the huge A380 plane, was all queued up with hundreds of people eager to get on the plane. (Always surprises me why they are in such a rush to get in front of each other. Plane not going anywhere until ALL are on-another story).
So, I look around and see a couple of regular looking guys standing pretty much right in middle of the pre-boarding area in plain view of everyone. One of the dudes is quietly talking on the phone.Not smiling, not laughing , just regular soft talking. (maybe?).
As he turns I see that I definitely recognize this face-yep, you got it, Kanye West. Swear! I figure I HAVE to get a pic with him.
Yes, go figure. A pic with my FAVORITE entertainer.
But I don't want to interrupt him so I wait, and wait and wait. Now I think he is pretending to talk so as not to be bothered.
As the boarding is about to begin he slowly works his way to the 1st class line. But he hesitates. Not sure why.
This is the moment.
I go over, ask if we can get a shot together "for my daughters", and he nicely complies. Took a quick buddy shot then stepped away laughing to myself about my comments yesterday on FB and now meeting him.
But he remains in an off  spot and not really in line.
I go to young woman at the counter and inform her that Kanye West is there and can she move him up.
She says OK and to tell him.
I go over to him tap his buddy on the shoulder and suggest he go to the front of the line.
He looks at me and then moves up.
Not far enough.
So, I go back and say :"ALL THE WAY". Kanye looks at me with an appreciative smile and nudges past others to the front.
Pretty cool I think. From the stage of the #121212 concert to the front of the line for VIPs.
As I walk away, I see a woman I know who handles the queues and asked if she saw him.
"Oh yes, sure," she said. "I told him to go to the end of the line."
"Why" I asked, "he is a VIP".
"VIP or not" she replied. " When you travel in economy, you take the other line".
OOPS.
Kanye, hope you enjoyed being treated like a VIP.Next time travel business class.

Like they say, you can make this stuff up.Buzzfeed.

Oh, and by the way , what was that you were wearing at the concert. Meggings? Clothing castoffs from Sting?

( And for the record, come on you entertainers. Tip the Skycaps, wheelchair pushers and service people will ya!)

#121212concert

Big thanks to all who participated in the #121212concert event. Bigger thanks to all the people who came from all over the country to help out; and to the men/women in the field who worked 16 hrs while going back to homes without power and starting alll over again the next morning. #Sandy was a major blow to our area and many have lost much. At the same time many of us were only dealt a glancing blow from her wrath and for that we are all thankful.
Interesting to see the performers and actual time they spent on the stage.I could feel the level of concern or lack of it. For example Billy Joel, Bruce, Bon Jovi and Alicia sung from the heart while The Stones seemed to be there more as an expectation than desire. Mick suggests that when it rains in London we help out. What gall, but not unexpected from a group who has turned more needy and greedy as they age.Hey, did you actually donate from the money you received from the NYNJ concert goers recently?
But age and genre are major points of my short blog today.
Is Rock & Roll on life support?  What is going to happen to this genre of music after all the grey beards begin to murmur old lyrics in the nursing home? Did you see all the greying of America there on stage. Notice the lack of any young and upcoming R&R? I did not. Will this genre be relegated to muzak only in another 5 years? Hate to be stuck with Kanye going forward! He personally annoys me with pompous and silly theatrics. Maybe this is why the R&R standard bearers get so much interest during these shows. They all seem like the last concert-they are a dying blue -jeans breed. And, hate to say it but come on Daltry, or should I say Tom Jones, enough with the open shirt. Not sexy at this point in time.If I had to retire my Speedo you have to retire the naval exposure. LOL Rock on.

Barrier Islands After Sandy-Long Beach, NY

Well, my quest to see the barriers islands along the south shore of Long Island, NY continues. I went by Long Beach 30 days after #sandy. Like most places the whole oceanfront and properties up to 2 blocks north got a beating. The board walk extends along about 2 miles or so along the Atlantic and many large buildings occupy the area with many renovated into nice living apartments and condos over the years. The boardwalk is a favorite of mine to bike ride off season to get some fresh air and see who else is about enjoying the scenery. A buddy of mine lives in one of theses buildings and is now staying with a friend in Manhattan because he is so depressed by the wreckage. He was fortunate living on the 9th floor and did not lose possessions but his building did not have elevator or electric for three weeks.Long Beach got hit hard. Just yesterday dead cars were still being removed, a huge mountain of sand is being amassed due to contamination, and household debris grows daily as people still clean out their homes and businesses.
There are the regular daily visits of curiosity seekers that drive up with cameras strung around their neck taking photos of the twisted boardwalk, dangling garbage cans and small signs of rebuilding here and there. One can hear the sighs of concern and amazement as they peer under the collapsed boardwalk and out to the ocean where before walls of sand obscured the same view. In the background you can see big work trucks, bulldozers and contractors still removing feet of sand from the roads and parking lots which held some cars buried 6 feet of sand. Now you can see the profile of surfers back in their favorite rips along the beach. For them, the ocean is a place of comfort and challenge. Many of these surf rats live in the area  and will go back home after catching some waves and sift through years old collections of stuff and continue the painful task of selecting the few salvageable to keep as memories of days past.They are reconciled to the whims of nature and live many others along the Mid-Atlantic, muddle through the despair, pain eventually building back what they once had. The flying of the American flag is a testament to their belief in our ideals of facing challenges and overcoming them.