Hurricane Sandy, the NOAA, graphs, and charts. (and a dash of politics)

The NOAA is an organization which benefits all Americans. The number of lives (and amount of money) it has saved through preventative measures is staggering.  Think of the millions of citizens that are evacuated or are made better prepared each year due to its services.  I do not mind a portion of my hard earned income tax going toward this investment because the return on the investment great beyond measure.

It is interesting to note that both NASA and the NOAA are set to have their funding cut. This, in my opinion, is tragic.

The wealth of data that is available to the public via NOAA is truly outstanding. From this raw data, many interesting graphs and charts can be created. From these charts, we can ask questions and with some mathematical insight, obtain answers relevant to our own safety during an extreme weather event.

It also provides a useful unit conversion tool and to help us get a sense of perspective, here is radar for the entire 48 states on a continually updated loop.

Here is some buoy data for the Baltimore Inner Harbor, with water level and wind speed & air pressure graphs. As the air pressure decreases, the wind speed increases.

Here is data from a buoy off of Cape Hattaras. There seems to be a wind-speed anomaly. Perhaps one can use the map tool to find data for another buoy nearby...

Indeed, one can. 

Here is another buoy, farther south and west of the Cape Hattaras. We can see a sudden drop off and pick up in wind speed. Also, the air pressure bottoms out at ~ 28.82 in (975.96 according to the conversion tool) and the wind speed tops out at ~57 knots (~66 mph). 

Being able to read and interpret charts is a critical skill.  Hopefully everyone in the path of Hurricane Sandy will recognize that this is a tremendous storm with the potential to do wide-spread and severe damage. Here are some sobering words from the NOAA:

PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP AS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO

WORSEN TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY ON MONDAY.

SOME IMPORTANT NOTES...

1. IF YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO EVACUATE A COASTAL LOCATION BY STATE

AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, PLEASE DO SO.

2. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT TO EVACUATE, AND YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO RODE

OUT THE `62 STORM ON THE BARRIER ISLANDS, ASK THEM IF THEY COULD DO

IT AGAIN.

3. IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT, THINK ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES, THINK ABOUT

THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO WILL BE UNABLE TO REACH YOU WHEN YOU

MAKE THE PANICKED PHONE CALL TO BE RESCUED, THINK ABOUT THE

RESCUE/RECOVERY TEAMS WHO WILL RESCUE YOU IF YOU ARE INJURED OR

RECOVER YOUR REMAINS IF YOU DO NOT SURVIVE.

4. SANDY IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM. THERE WILL BE MAJOR

PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURIES ARE PROBABLY UNAVOIDABLE, BUT THE GOAL IS

ZERO FATALITIES.

5. IF YOU THINK THE STORM IS OVER-HYPED AND EXAGGERATED, PLEASE ERR

ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

WE WISH EVERYONE IN HARMS WAY ALL THE BEST. STAY SAFE!