Hurricane in a Box-Just Add Water

摘要

New York City is now expected to experience a flood on par with that of Hurricane Sandy every 130 years. That's up from once every 3,000 years. To better understand and prepare for these kinds of cataclysmic storms, the University of Miami just opened a $45 million lab, and at its heart sits a hurricane-simulator called SUSTAIN (SUrge-STructure-Atmosphere INteraction-a tortured acronym, to be sure). The 75-foot, 30,000-galton acrylic tank can be filled with salt or fresh water. Using a 1,700-horsepower fan and a 12-paddle wave generator, scientists can stir up an infinite variety of waves. "We can create the equivalent of a hurricane with winds over 200 miles per hour," says oceanographer Brian Haus, SUSTAIN's director. "That's an off-the-charts Category 5."