Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
How Typhoon Haiyan became so powerful
Listen
• 1:04
Typhoon Haiyan, seen here in a NEXSAT satellite image, packed sustained winds of 190 mph as it headed towards the Philippines.
()
Rescue workers in the Philippines are still taking stock of the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
The category 5 cyclone wreaked havoc on coastal communities, and as many as 10,000 people may have been killed.
Haiyan is being described as a "super storm."
It started like all typhoons when upper and lower sections of the atmosphere begin moving in opposite directions.
Support for LAist comes from
NASA climate scientist Bill Patzert says this atmospheric instability is fed by warm air coming off the ocean. September, October and November are typically the warmest months for the ocean, he said.
"And in the western Pacific where this formed, that's where we find the warmest surface temperatures in the ocean," Patzert said.
But Haiyan had another factor helping it grow: location. It formed in wide open ocean water, far from the influence of land, which Patzert says usually dampens a storm's intensity.
"So when this happens, you get a very, very intense typhoon. What they call 'super typhoons,' " he said.
Patzert says there's not enough data to say whether or not climate change had a role in this particular storm since typhoons of this size are not unheard of in the region.
But he says climate change will likely make extreme weather more common and that means more potential trouble for coastal communities across the globe.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist