We rely on hurricane categories to gauge risk, but what if the scale is leaving out the biggest dangers? Jennifer Collins, a hurricane researcher and professor in USF’s School of Geosciences, coauthored a new research paper proposing a more comprehensive approach. The current Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale measures a storm’s strength only by wind, yet wind is responsible for just 8% of hurricane-related fatalities. In contrast, storm surge accounts for 49% and rainfall flooding for 27%.
Collins and her coauthors argue that the scale should also reflect the risks from storm surge and flooding. The team plans to present their research to the National Hurricane Center and the full report is available online. Click here for more.
Port Security Conference – November 4 Florida’s ports are critical. Join top experts and leaders to explore the urgent challenges facing port security, from cyberattacks to smuggling. Whether you're attending in person or tuning in online, this is a must for anyone in maritime or defense. Underwater Minerals Conference – November 9 - 14 Get in the room with global leaders shaping the future of ocean resource development. From cutting-edge tech to environmental policy, the UMC brings together the brightest minds from 25+ countries for deep discussions that matter.
Lonestar Data Holdings, based in St. Petersburg, is still going strong after its launch to the Moon in February. Since then, the company has joined a $120 million partnership with Sidus Space and opened a new office in Austin, Texas. Keep following Lonestar’s success as they’ve got big plans in store for 2027.
The innovative ideas are flowing at our Tech X-Changes. Dr. Marcus Beck presented great material on tbeptools, an open-source software program built to visualize data used by TBEP. Visit the tbeptools page for more information.