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Ocean Depth, "Thunderous Zone" Hinder Salvage Efforts

By AccuWeather.com Experts

AccuWeather.com reports after potentially playing a role in the crash of Flight 447, the thunderous zone of weather around the equator could hinder search and wreckage recovery operations.

The salvage efforts will likely be hampered by heavy thunderstorms and high seas, which are both common in the tropics this time of year. These thunderstorms will develop often as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) becomes more active over the next several months.

Salvage experts will likely have to fight heavy storms and rough seas almost daily while trying to reach the remains of the airplane. In addition, large clusters of thunderstorms will roll off the African coast about every few days. If conditions are right, the thunderstorms can form into tropical depressions or tropical storms.

The plane's debris were found in a part of the Atlantic Ocean with an ocean depth of 9,000 feet. In comparison, the Titanic's wreckage is 12,600 feet below the surface, a depth that requires special submarines to reach it.

While the heavier parts of a plane wreckage sink to the bottom of the ocean, the lighter parts will drift with the prevailing ocean currents, which flow from west to east and have an average speed of 5 mph. Provided these conditions remain constant, it will take about a week for any floating debris to reach the African coast.

Brazil's defense minister confirmed Monday that the debris found in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil is that of Flight 447. The debris found included plane seats, metallic objects and jet fuel stains in the water. The Airbus 330-200 jet carrying 228 people took off from Rio de Janeiro Sunday en route to Paris and went missing Sunday evening, EDT.

Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity and Meteorologist John Dlugoenski and by News Correspondent Gina Cherundolo

To learn more or discuss with a forecaster, please contact:

Justin Roberti
Roberti@AccuWeather.com

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