Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Title:
TOPEX/El Niño Watch - Moisture in the Atmosphere, Jan & Feb, 1998
Original Caption Released with Image:
his series of six images shows the evolution of atmospheric water vapor over the Pacific Ocean during the 1998 El Niño condition. Higher than normal ocean water temperatures increase the rate of evaporation, and the resulting warm moist air rises into the atmosphere, altering global weather patterns. Data obtained by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) during January and February 1998 show a decrease in the extent of high levels of water vapor (red) over the eastern equatorial Pacific and an increase in water vapor (yellow to red) over the northwestern Pacific off the coast of Japan. This area is a breeding ground for winter storms that move eastward toward North America. During this El Niño condition, the southern tropical jet stream has shifted northward, bringing additional moisture from the tropics. When these two sources of moisture converge near California, they produce storms with higher-than-normal rainfall.

For more information, please visit the TOPEX/Poseidon project web page at http://topex-www.jp…
Addition Date:
1998-07-03
Produced By:
JPL
Mission:
TOPEX/Poseidon (Jason-1)
Spacecraft:
TOPEX/Poseidon
Target Name:
Earth
Is a satellite of:
Sol (our sun)
Instrument:
Altimeter
Product Size:
695 samples x 900 lines
Primary Data Set:
TOPEX/Poseidon Science and Data
Producer ID:
P49651BC
facet_what:
Sun
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
TOPEX
facet_what:
Jason-1
facet_what:
Poseidon
facet_what:
TOPEX/Poseidon
facet_what:
Altimeter
facet_what:
Microwave Limb Sounder
facet_what:
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
facet_what:
UARS
facet_where:
Pacific Ocean
facet_where:
California
facet_where:
Japan
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_when:
February 1998
facet_when:
Feb, 1998
facet_when_year:
1998
Image #:
PIA01450
UID:
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA01450
orignial url:

TOPEX/El Niño Watch - Moisture in the Atmosphere, Jan & Feb, 1998