Tag Archives: Gulf of Mexico

Ike Dike versus Centennial Gate

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s an academic storm surge mitigation smackdown! Lawmakers on Monday told representatives of two of Texas’ most distinguished universities to stop feuding and come together on a plan for protecting the Houston region from a storm surge similar to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Ike Dike versus Centennial Gate

It’s hurricane season prediction time

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

And this year’s forecast is for a fairly quiet summer. On Thursday, forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released their seasonal outlook for 2014, predicting eight to 13 named storms would form. This means, most likely, the Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shark Week in the Gulf

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You got your goblin sharks. Shrimpers fishing in the Gulf of Mexico have pulled up an incredibly rare, almost prehistoric looking goblin shark. It’s only the second sighting of such a beast in the Gulf. The freakish shark is one … Continue reading →

Posted in Around the world | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Shark Week in the Gulf

The Galveston oil spill

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

This is just awful. While the oil spill resulting from Saturday’s collision between a ship and barge was small by global standards – less than a third of what it would take to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool – the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Galveston oil spill

What happened to the hurricanes?

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This had been predicted to be one of the busier hurricane seasons of recent years. It turned out to be one of the quietest. What happened? “A combination of conditions acted to offset several climate patterns that historically have produced … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The drought affects the coast, too

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Even more reasons to hope for rain. A growing body of research into the effects of the state’s ongoing drought, which began in late 2010 and peaked in 2011, reveal a coast deeply affected by the prolonged dry spell. “Coastal … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The drought affects the coast, too

Drinking water from the Gulf

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Well, there is a lot of water there. The wicked drought gripping Texas has made one thing clear to Bill West: There is not enough water to meet new urban demands and competing environmental needs. So in his search for … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Do you want more information about potential hurricanes?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The National Hurricane Center is giving you what you want. Sometime during this Atlantic hurricane season, which began Saturday, forecasters will start issuing five-day outlooks – that is predicting where storms may form five days in advance. The expanded outlook … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Do you want more information about potential hurricanes?

Shark fins

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m not sure why the practice of shark finning wasn’t illegal already. Texas lawmakers are considering a ban on the sale and possession of shark fins, a move that reflects a growing trend to protect the imperiled creatures at the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shark fins

Busy hurricane season predicted

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Start stocking up on batteries and bottled water. Forecasters agree: The coming Atlantic hurricane season looks like a busy one. A number of factors, principally higher-than-normal temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean where most tropical storms form, indicate this season will … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Here comes El Niño

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Our hurricane season could be short. The formation of Tropical Storm Debby last weekend in the Gulf of Mexico brought the tally of Atlantic storms to four this season, the earliest that’s ever happened. But despite the quick beginning, scientists … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Here comes El Niño

The giant prawn menace

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Yet another thing to add to your list of Things You Didn’t Realize You Needed To Worry About: Giant prawns in the Gulf of Mexico. The Asian tiger prawn, a foot-long crustacean with a voracious appetite and a proclivity for … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The giant prawn menace

Time for the annual “Are we ready for a big storm?” story

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The answer, of course, is no, not really. After Tropical Storm Allison’s devastating floods, the Houston area widened its bayous and hardened its infra­structure. After Hurricane Rita’s deadly gridlock, the state revamped storm communications and evacuation plans. Yet since Hurricane … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Time for the annual “Are we ready for a big storm?” story

Tar balls in Galveston

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s hope this is not the start of something bigger. About a dozen tar balls that washed ashore on Crystal Beach were identified Monday as oil from the BP well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico, the first evidence that … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Tar balls in Galveston

Hurricane Alex

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Stay safe, everyone. Heavy downpours and possible coastal flooding are forecast for the next few days in the Houston area as Hurricane Alex churns in the Gulf of Mexico and then slams ashore along the northern Mexican coast south of … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Hurricane Alex

This is why we call him “Smokey Joe”

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve probably seen it by now, but feast your eyes anyway on Rep. Joe Barton apologizing to BP for that mean ol’ government making them pay for their mess in the Gulf. He’s since apologized for the apology, but given … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on This is why we call him “Smokey Joe”

About that BP safety record, Governor…

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

In addition to his silly statement that the BP oil leak in the Gulf was an act of God, Governor Perry also made the curious claim that BP has “historically had a very good safety record from my perspective.” From … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on About that BP safety record, Governor…

It may take an act of God for Rick Perry to admit he was wrong

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Governor Perry is being questioned about his silly “act of God” comment regarding the BP oil leak in the Gulf, and he’s apparently a mite touchy about it. Look, we all know – clearly Perry does – that “act of … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perry blames God for oil leak

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

That sure is what this sounds like to me. Texas Gov. Rick Perry Monday offered a stern warning against halting oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of a massive oil leak, and he raised the question … Continue reading →

Posted in Skepticism | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fish farming approved for the Gulf

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in January, I noted that there was a proposal to allow a fish farm in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was asked for a ruling on it. On Thursday, the deadline for making … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Fish farming approved for the Gulf

Hurricane season quiet so far

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s nice, but it doesn’t mean we’re in good shape. Although the first Atlantic named storm typically forms by July 10, the real activity doesn’t usually begin until August, and a lull in early season activity doesn’t necessarily presage a … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurricane Katrina | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Hurricane season quiet so far

Hot enough for ya?

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, it’s really hot out there. Houston’s relentless heat wave prompted the National Weather Service today to declare a “Heat Emergency,” a designation that air temperature and humidity is a potential health threat for all people and is particularly dangerous … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fish farming in the Gulf?

Posted on January 29, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Not sure what I think about this. Regional fishery managers have a plan to open the Gulf to the first industrial-scale fish farms in federal waters. The proposal — intended to help reduce the nation’s reliance on imported seafood — … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fish farming in the Gulf?