http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/14/science/tide-gauges-needed-for-research-are-often-victims-of-storms.html?ref=science
On October 29, 2012, Hurricane
Sandy struck the entire east coast of North America destroying almost
everything in its path. An instrument known as a “Tide Gauge,” was tracking the
over-sea levels of Hurricane Sandy (which reached about 11 feet over regular
sea level) when the instrument suddenly stopped. It had been that the storms
mighty waves and winds crushed the government-owned instrument to bits and
pieces. There is now talk about different ways these instruments could be made
to last severe tropical storms. “We know our stations are at increasing risk,
because the storm surges ride upon sea level,” Mr. Gill said. So, the
government has been discussing the starting of a long-term program that would
harden the instruments for future storms. Right now, a agency caked the NOAA
has built four super strong tide stations that are mounted on touch steel
piling that has been driven around 80 feet deep and are designed to stand up to
category 4 hurricanes, but there is not enough of these instruments.
In order to categorize different
hurricanes, tide gauges are used, but now that all of the tide gauges are being
destroyed in all major storms (aside from the ones just built) there is now no
telling on how bad a storm could possibly be. If we create an instrument that is strong
enough to uphold the storm, climate scientists and oceanographers will soon be
able to properly track storms, but there is one problem. The government
estimates that this project will cost around 500,000 dollars for each new tide
gauge that they build, which means that government will be spending money that
they really don’t have, putting the United States in more debt.
This was a great article jam packed
with details and information that I never knew was a big problem and it was
exciting to learn about something new. I really like how to author included
statistical data that really helps expand your knowledge exactly on the topic.
One thing I wish the author included was more dates and times of when specific
things were built, talked about etc. Other than that, this was a well-written
article that I enjoyed reading.
This was a really interesting current event to read. I really like how Allison chose to include a past event but she could connect this event to the present. I also thought she presented the information really well; she gave her opinion and said what she learned from reading the article that she didn’t know before. Allison also did a good job of working quotes into her current event. I can tell that the topic was something that interested her.
ReplyDeleteI think next time Allison does a current event that she should make sure that she doesn’t over whelm the reader with too many facts all at once. She makes a lot of good points but gives a little too much information. Another thing I think she should try next time she writes a current event is to try and not put those little fluff pieces that just take up space.
Before reading this current event I did not know that all of our tide gauges were destroyed during sandy. I also didn’t know that it would cost 500,000 dollars to build more of them.
Allison did a good job on providing some background information on why scientists are trying to make this technology less breakable. She also did a good job on stating some details about the improved model, and how it can stand up to category 4 hurricanes. A third thing Allison did a good job on was talking about any problems that might get in the way of improving this technology. One thing that could have made this report better would be to expand more on how the device works. Allison mentioned that this device works for some other storms. Mentioning some of these storms could have also improved the review. One thing I didn’t know was that Hurricane Sandy was so powerful it destroyed a Tide Gauge. Overall Allison did a great job in her review, and she brought up a topic that is unusual.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article review. It is always saddening to hear about the natural disaster that happened on the east coast. I liked that she brought some sentimentality into the already horrible news. This boosted her thesis. She Also explained well the situation on how to prevent a storm like that from happening again. Her facts were also true to her thesis and made the review great. To make the review better, the author should not have brought politics into her review because it strays away from what her thesis is. Also, her voice would be stronger if she had added more analysis to her quotes. What impressed me was how destructive hurricanes can be.
ReplyDeleteI think Allison did an exceptional job reviewing this article. I liked how she included some information about Hurricane Sandy, and how she made it connect to the article. I also liked how she included many quotes, which also included a lot of information. She also did a great job making the review flow.
ReplyDeleteI would’ve liked if Allison elaborated a little on how the device itself works, and what it’s abilities are. I also would’ve liked if she included the title and author of the article somewhere in the review besides the title, so the reader can use as a reference.
One thing that surprised me was how Hurricane Sandy was powerful enough to destroy the tide gauge. I also didn’t realize how expensive these tide gauges are to replace.