Posted by ANGELAPublished on Thur, Nov 1 2012
Hey guys!
Hope everyone weathered the storm in a safe manner!
I was perusing the internet for articles detailing the aftermath of the hurricane, and came across a very interesting one on NASA's website. The article describes NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, or TRIMM satellite. The satellite was active during hurricane Sandy, taking measurements from outer space of the sheer amount of rain that deposited during the storm.
The image below details the measurements through the path of the storm. The highest measurements of rainfall occurred over the Atlantic Ocean, not reaching land. Here in Baltimore we experienced roughly 120-130 mm of rainfall. This translates into about 4.75-5.15 inches of rain.
As we learned from our visits with Baltimore's own Waterkeeper, Tina Meyers of Blue Water Baltimore, such a rapid increase in rainfall can have devastating effects on the Chesapeake Bay, as well as the watershed's entirety. Storms often carry excessive amounts of rainfall that overwhelm the drainage systems in the city, often causing sewage to leak and pollute the environment. As well, the rapid water runoff carries bacteria and pollution into local waterways, which eventually lead to the bay.
There are several precautions that citizens can take prior to a large storm such as Sandy that will help to prevent this sort of occurrence. Tasks like collecting any visible litter from the ground in your neighborhood will keep this trash from being swept away, eventually residing in the bay. Clearing out storm drains clogged with trash helps as well, as this will prevent flooding, and the build up unsanitary water. For more information on what to do prior to a storm, you can visit Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper's Facebook page. ( Facebook - Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper ) They're very good at posting helpful reminders in a relevant time period.
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