How Hurricanes Were Monitored in 1933

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In summary, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has broken records set in 1933 for most storms. During that time, hurricanes were monitored through ground stations and occasional ship logs, making it possible for some storms to go unnoticed or not reported. However, with satellite monitoring in present times, no hurricanes are missed. This raises questions about the accuracy of the number of hurricanes recorded in 1933 and the possibility of missing some storms.
  • #1
matthyaouw
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I'm hearing a lot that this Atlantic hurricane season has broken records set in 1933 for most storms. How comprehensively were hurricanes monitored in 1933? It occurs to me that several storms this year were short lived and never made landfall (see here: http://hurricane.terrapin.com/CurrentSeason.html.en ) and this has got me wondering- with how much certainty do we know how many hurricanes/storms there were in 1933 (we obviously were not monitoring them by satellite)? I've been unable to find any information on how they were tracked back then, so is it at all possible that one could have just gone un noticed, or at least not reported by ship/plane crews?
 
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  • #2
Nail on the head, Matt, exactly the problem. We discussed that elsewhere. With satellite monitoring, we don't miss any hurricane anymore whereas in 1933, several hurricanes, not having made landfall, could have disappeared completely unnoticed intohe Atlantic.

In the old days there were those big black binders keeping record of the groundstations. Perhaps an odd ship log was found to enter the records but that's probably it. And then you could count the same hurricane twice (land and ship) or miss the seaborne ones completely.
 
  • #3
If it wa'sn't for satellites would we have registered Danielle, Karl, Lisa, Nicole, or Otto of http://image.weather.com/images/maps/tropical/spec_trop8_720x486.jpg
 
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1. How did scientists monitor hurricanes in 1933?

In 1933, scientists monitored hurricanes primarily through visual observations from ships and coastal weather stations. They also used telegraph and radio communications to gather information on storm locations and intensities.

2. Did scientists have advanced technology to track hurricanes in 1933?

No, scientists did not have the advanced technology that we have today to track hurricanes in 1933. They relied on basic instruments, such as barometers and thermometers, and visual observations to monitor storms.

3. Were there any forecasting methods used to predict hurricanes in 1933?

Yes, scientists in 1933 used basic forecasting methods, such as tracking storm movements and predicting potential intensities based on past storm patterns. However, these methods were not as advanced or accurate as the ones used today.

4. What were the limitations of monitoring hurricanes in 1933?

The main limitations of monitoring hurricanes in 1933 were the lack of advanced technology and limited data collection. This made it difficult for scientists to accurately track and predict storm movements and intensities.

5. How has hurricane monitoring changed since 1933?

Since 1933, hurricane monitoring has greatly advanced with the development of new technology, such as satellites, radar, and computer models. This has allowed for more accurate and timely tracking and forecasting of hurricanes, helping to better prepare and protect communities in the path of these storms.

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