“Brown Cloud” from Asia Pollutes the United States and other Continents

Greenbelt, MD (HDW) December 18, 2004 - In the picture taken from a NASA satellite shown above, a “Brown Cloud” of haze follows the course of the Ganges River in northern India, flowing eastward along the base of the snow-capped Himalaya Mountains (upper right) before turning south and spreading out in gray streamers over the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean (lower right). Although the pollution in this brown cloud comes from human activities like agricultural fires, home heating sources (that rely on wood, kerosene, or dung burning), industry, and vehicle emissions, it lingers because of topography and atmospheric circulation patterns. In the winter phase of the Indian Ocean Monsoon, winds typically blow seaward, which carries the large, thick “brown cloud” of pollution far out over the ocean. (full article...)

Tropical Storm Alex Becomes First of 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Miami, Florida (HDW) August 1, 2004 (2 PM EDT) - REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE HAS STRENGTHENED INTO TROPICAL STORM ALEX...THE FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE 2004 NORTH ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM CAPE FEAR TO CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA... INCLUDING THE PAMLICO SOUND. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. (full article...)

Alaska (HDW) August 17, 2004 – This true-color image of a large low pressure system spinning in the Gulf of Alaska was captured on August 17, 2004 at 22:45 UTC.

(full article...)