4 years ago
Hurricane Katrina was one of 27 named storms last year. It was the most costly in damages and lives lost.
This year, 13 to 16 named stormed are predicted. But can scientists do a better job tracking and predicting them? Some at George Mason University think so.
Menas Kafatos is the dean of the School of Computation Sciences. His research team, funded NASA and NOAA, has developed it's own hurricane prediction model.
Using real time data from a satellite antenna, it tracks five National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites orbiting Earth, which gives them real time high resolution pictures.
The team's Katrina model was right on the money. It's now known Katrina intensified because of a slight increase in the water temperature of the gulf.
Why the Gulf water was warmer is the big question. Was it just part of a naturally occurring pattern, or was it because of global warming? These researchers will be looking at the politically- charged question as well.
Written By Peggy Fox 9 News
