19 Storms or Hurricanes Predicted for this Summer

by Maureen Dietrich
11 Apr 15
mazmessenger.com

Statistics show that Sinaloa is the second State most affected by tropical storms and hurricanes.

Due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, meteorologists are predicting 19 tropical cyclones in the Pacific region this summer, six more than the annual average of 13. Hurricane season in the Pacific begins May 15 and ends November 30.

In a video conference from Mexico City the coordinator of the National Meteorological Service, Juan Manuel Caballero González, said he could not give a definitive prediction as it will all depend on how El Niño develops.

He explained that if El Niño is strong, the central and north areas of the country will see an intense drought. If it is weak, we will have normal or above normal rain in the summer months of June, July and August.

Of the 19 events expected in the Pacific, eight are predicted to be tropical storms and 11 to be hurricanes, four of which will be intense and six moderate. The meteorologist added that historically only 2.9 storms directly affect coastal areas.

Statistics show that Sinaloa is the second State most affected by tropical storms and hurricanes with 41 direct hits. Last year, 14 storms lashed Sinaloa.

Mazatlán is definitely at risk for tropical storms particularly in September and October, said Caballero González.

For the Atlantic Ocean, the University of Colorado predicts less cyclone activity with seven named storms, four of which could become tropical storms and three hurricanes.

The names for Pacific tropical storms and hurricanes this year will be: Andrés, Blanca, Carlos, Dolores, Enrique, Felicia, Guillermo, Hilda, Ignacio, Jimena, Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Patricia, Rick, Sandra and Terry.

(from Noroeste)

Rescata embarcación mazatleca a dos pilotos que viajaban en globo

 Saúl Valdez

noroeste.com


MAZATLÀN._ Tras romper dos marcas mundiales en un globo aerostático, el estadounidense Troy Bradley y el ruso Leonid Tiukhtyaev fueron rescatados por pescadores de la embarcación mazatleca Paúl I, luego de caer en territorio mexicano.

Todo comenzó con la aventura de dos pilotos que salieron de Japón con la intención de romper dos antiguos records mundiales, el primero fue por recorrer 10 mil 700 kilómetros, y la segunda por el tiempo que permanecieron en aire, con un total de 160 horas de vuelo.

Sin embargo, después de la gran hazaña, los experimentados pilotos tuvieron que desviar el Two Eagle, nombre el globo de helio, debido al mal tiempo que persistía en los cielos cercanos a Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.

El sábado 31 de enero, a 7 millas náuticas de la costa, uno de los tripulantes de la embarcación camaronera que pertenece a la empresa Pesca Siglo XXI, divisó el globo cuando caía al mar, fue entonces cuando los otros cinco miembros de la tripulación fueron al rescate de Bradley y Tiukhtyaev, los cuales estaban dentro de una cápsula amarilla.

"Nos dedicamos a rescatarlos, la cápsula estaba volteada, ya ellos tenían inflada su balcita, la calamos, la metimos a bordo, ya nos lanzamos al agua y recuperamos todo, el globo y todo", dijo Abraham Trujillo, maquinista.

El estadounidense presentaba crisis nerviosa a la hora de ser rescatado y fue atendido.

Uno de los miembros de la embarcación comentó que entregaron a los náufragos a la Armada de México 4 horas y media después, y que se adjudicaron el logro.

Ya en Mazatlán, Troy Bradley y su esposa, quien viajó desde Alburquerque, Nuevo México, hasta este puerto, regresaron por la cápsula, parte del globo y el equipo de comunicación con el que rompieron dos records mundiales, además de un tanque de oxigeno y otro de propano con el que mantenían una temperatura alta, debido al alto vuelo.

Los seis tripulantes del Paul I que realizaron la misión fueron el Capitán Francisco Cervantes, el maquinista Abraham Truijillo, el ayudante Esteban Millán, el cocinero Samuel Sernas y los marineros Melitón Soto y Ulises Carranza.

No Seals on Mazatlán’s Turtle Rock this Year

by Maureen Dietrich
2 Feb 15
mazmessenger.com

The loss of the seal colony began slowly then intensified.

For years during the winter months, seals have made their home and resting place on Turtle Rock in the bay, much to the delight of tourists who snapped photos of the colony from tour boats.
This year, however, the Rock is deserted.

Raquel Briseño Dueñas, member of the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, has been investigating and documenting the gradual decline of Mazatlán’s seal colony.

Within the last ten years, she said, she began documenting the reduction of seals visiting the harbour and the sighting of dead seals on beaches. The loss began slowly then intensified.

The visits of the mammals to Mazatlán in winter months began centuries ago when they would congregate on the Tres Islas. When Mazatlán was colonized, the visits began to decline.

One hypothesis is the colony could have been threatened by tour boats.

Today, said Briseño Dueñas, there are several hypotheses as to why the seal population has declined. The colony could have been threatened by the tour boats, or their food supply has dwindled or they have suffered physical threats.

The investigator mentioned specifically another possible reason: a helicopter that began flying over Turtle Rock which panicked the seal colony and sent it into the water.

In 2009 the seals began to arrive in diminished numbers, down from between 20 or 25 to approximately eight. In 2011-2012, they arrived only sporadically. Today, she pointed out, they have gone.

We do not know, the marine biologist added, whether this is a temporary situation or if the seals will return to Turtle Rock. (from Noroeste)

Whale Population Increases off Coast of Mazatlán

by Maureen Dietrich

22 Dec 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

Óscar Guzón Zataráin, director general of Onca Exploraciones in Mazatlán, said yesterday they are recording the presence of more humpback whales off the coast of the city every year.

The abundance of whale pods and baby whales off the shore of Mazatlán has increased in the last seven years he said, adding the reasons could be numerous.

Last year Onca marine biologists registered 22 baby whales, almost double the number observed in previous years.

Onca Exploraciones offers whale watching excursions for tourists from December 15 through April 15 during the four months the species resides in warmer water to reproduce before heading back to the United States, Canada and Alaska.

 (from Noroeste)