The Impact of Hurricane Isabel Shown Through LiDAR

whitefox writes "The folks at NASA, USGS, & NOAA flew flights gathering elevation data (including building tops) along the Outer Banks before and after Hurricane Isabel as part of the Eastern Coastal & Watershed Studies on hurricane and severe storm impacts. The preliminary results have been put out on a temporary website. I certainly don't make light of the suffering many people went through, including my own relatives, but I'm utterly awed by these pictures."

LIDAR

[MemoryAid]

LIDAR is an acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging.

Presumably this site has more [lidar.com]

The system uses lasers to map elevations. This is interesting from a nerd perspective, but the photos will appeal to all.

Typhoons too?

[justanyone]

I wonder if the fancy-shmancy simulations they run to figure out what a hurricane will do next have any applicablity to hurricanes in the southern hemisphere (which are commonly referred to as 'Typhoons', right?)

Re:Typhoons too?

[whitefox]

typhoon [reference.com]

n : a tropical cyclone occurring in the W Pacific or Indian oceans

Re:Typhoons too?

[Captain Nitpick]

I wonder if the fancy-shmancy simulations they run to figure out what a hurricane will do next have any applicablity to hurricanes in the southern hemisphere (which are commonly referred to as 'Typhoons', right?)

The different models rely on different proportions of past statistics, and climate modelling. The more a north Atlantic model relies on statistics, the less it is applicable to other areas prone to tropical cyclones.

I'm sure that poor bastard

[duffbeer703]

Is going to appreciate having her cell phone number linked to the first page of Slashdot.

The complete irresponsibility of /. editors continues to amaze and astound.

Re:I'm sure that poor bastard

[crapulent]

Since she works for the usgs I'm sure she's used to socially inept nerds calling at odd hours for no apparent reason.

Re:I'm sure that poor bastard

[tbmaddux]

appreciate having her cell phone number

FYI, Abby Sallenger is a man.