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Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and Imager of Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) from 2005
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Hurricane Katrina Rain Accum
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| Title |
Hurricane Katrina Rain Accumulation (WMS) |
| Abstract |
This animation shows rain accumulation from Hurricane Katrina from August 23 through 30, 2005 based on data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis. Satellite cloud data from NOAA/GOES is overlaid for context. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 30 mm of rain) through red (80 mm or more). The TRMM satellite, using the world's only spaceborne rain radar and other microwave instruments, measures rainfall over the ocean. |
| Completed |
2005-09-01 |
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Hurricane Emily: July 20, 20
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| Title |
Hurricane Emily: July 20, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft is used to understand Hurricane Emily. TRMM observed this view of Hurricane Emily just before the storm made landfall on July 20, 2005. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-07-20 |
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Hurricane Emily: July 20, 20
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| Title |
Hurricane Emily: July 20, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft is used to understand Hurricane Emily. TRMM observed this view of Hurricane Emily just before the storm made landfall on July 20, 2005. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-07-20 |
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Hurricane Katrina from TRMM:
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| Title |
Hurricane Katrina from TRMM: August 28, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Katrina on August 28, 2005. At the time the data was taken, the hurricane was a Category 5 hurricane, the most destructive and deadly. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. |
| Completed |
2005-08-28 |
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TRMM Observes Hurricane Wilm
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| Title |
TRMM Observes Hurricane Wilma on October 19, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Wilma on October 19, 2005 at 1740Z. At this time the storm was classified as the most dangerous category five. Wilma had record low minimum pressure readings of 893 mb and sustained winds of 140 knots (161 mph). The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI) and TRMM's Precitation Radar(PR) instruments. TRMM looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-10-19 |
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TRMM Observes Hurricane Wilm
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| Title |
TRMM Observes Hurricane Wilma on October 19, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Wilma on October 19, 2005 at 1740Z. At this time the storm was classified as the most dangerous category five. Wilma had record low minimum pressure readings of 893 mb and sustained winds of 140 knots (161 mph). The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI) and TRMM's Precitation Radar(PR) instruments. TRMM looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-10-19 |
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TRMM Observes Hurricane Wilm
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| Title |
TRMM Observes Hurricane Wilma on October 19, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Wilma on October 19, 2005 at 1740Z. At this time the storm was classified as the most dangerous category five. Wilma had record low minimum pressure readings of 893 mb and sustained winds of 140 knots (161 mph). The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI) and TRMM's Precitation Radar(PR) instruments. TRMM looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-10-19 |
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Hurricane Rita from TRMM: Se
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| Title |
Hurricane Rita from TRMM: September 23, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Rita on September 23, 2005 at 0852Z. At this time the storm was a category 4 hurricane with a minimum pressure of 924 mb, and sustained winds of 120 knots. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-09-23 |
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Hurricane Rita from TRMM: Se
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| Title |
Hurricane Rita from TRMM: September 23, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Rita on September 23, 2005 at 0852Z. At this time the storm was a category 4 hurricane with a minimum pressure of 924 mb, and sustained winds of 120 knots. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-09-23 |
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Hurricane Rita from TRMM: Se
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| Title |
Hurricane Rita from TRMM: September 22, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Rita on September 22, 2005 at 0810Z. At this time the storm was the most destructive category 5 hurricane with a minimum pressure of 898mb, sustained winds of 150 knots, and a 15 nautical mile eye diameter. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-09-22 |
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Hurricane Rita from TRMM: Se
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| Title |
Hurricane Rita from TRMM: September 22, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Rita on September 22, 2005 at 0810Z. At this time the storm was the most destructive category 5 hurricane with a minimum pressure of 898mb, sustained winds of 150 knots, and a 15 nautical mile eye diameter. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-09-22 |
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Hurricane Katrina from TRMM:
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| Title |
Hurricane Katrina from TRMM: August 29, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft is used to understand Hurricane Katrina. TRMM observed this view of Hurricane Katrina just before the storm made landfall on August 29, 2005. Katrina remains an extremely large and dangerous hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the storm's center. Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels are expected. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI). It looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-08-25 |
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NASA's TRMM Satellite Captur
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| Title |
NASA's TRMM Satellite Captures Hurricane Wilma Data on October 20, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Wilma on October 20, 2005 at 0152Z. At this time the storm was classified as the most dangerous category five. Wilma had record low minimum pressure readings of 892 mb and sustained winds of 140 knots. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI) and TRMM's Precitation Radar(PR) instruments. TRMM looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-10-20 |
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NASA's TRMM Satellite Captur
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| Title |
NASA's TRMM Satellite Captures Hurricane Wilma Data on October 20, 2005 |
| Abstract |
NASA's TRMM spacecraft observed this view of Hurricane Wilma on October 20, 2005 at 0152Z. At this time the storm was classified as the most dangerous category five. Wilma had record low minimum pressure readings of 892 mb and sustained winds of 140 knots. The cloud cover is taken by TRMM's Visible and Infrared Scanner(VIRS) and the GOES spacecraft. The rain structure is taken by TRMM's Tropical Microwave Imager (TMI) and TRMM's Precitation Radar(PR) instruments. TRMM looks underneath of the storm's clouds to reveal the underlying rain structure. Blue represents areas with at least 0.25 inches of rain per hour. Green shows at least 0.5 inches of rain per hour. Yellow is at least 1.0 inches of rain and red is at least 2.0 inches of rain per hour. |
| Completed |
2005-10-20 |
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Cyclone Adeline-Juliet
| Title |
Cyclone Adeline-Juliet |
| Description |
On April 6, 2005, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite flew directly over Cyclone Adeline-Juliet, capturing this image. The image shows a snapshot of the rainfall rates within the storm as seen by the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) in the inner swath and TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) in the outer swath. The rainrates are overlaid on a visible image from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). A region of extremely heavy rain, red, circles the eye on the north, and bands of lighter rain swirl characteristically out from the center. As the image shows, Cyclone Adeline-Juliet is a small, but well-organized storm. With winds gusting up to 260 kilometers per hour (160 mph), the storm is moving west across the Indian Ocean at 17 kph (10 mph). This small, but powerful storm is churning the Indian Ocean, generating waves that reach up to 14 meters or 45 feet high. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center [ https://metoc.npmoc.navy.mil//jtwc.html ], Adeline-Juliet will continue to strengthen over the next two days.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. NASA image courtesy Hal Pierce, SSAI/NASA GSFC. |
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Cyclone Harvey Moves Over Au
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| Title |
Cyclone Harvey Moves Over Australia |
| Description |
Cyclone Harvey hit the northern coast Australia on Monday, February 7, 2005, near the border between the Northern Territory and Queensland along the Gulf of Carpentaria with wind gusts of up to 220 kph (132 mph). The storm was rated as a Category 3 Cyclone at landfall by the Bureau of Meteorology's Tropical Cyclone Warning Center. In November of 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission or TRMM satellite was launched to measure rainfall over the global Tropics. Armed with both passive and active sensors including the first and only precipitation radar in space, TRMM as has proven itself to be a valuable tool for examining tropical cyclones. TRMM was able to capture these unique images of Cyclone Harvey as it traversed the Gulf of Carpentaria and struck the coast of Australia. The first image, top left, was taken at 08:52 UTC (6:22 pm Australian CST) on February 6, 2005, just as Harvey was becoming better organized in the central Gulf of Carpentaria. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain rates (top down view) by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The center of Harvey falls within the TMI swath in this image. Only light (blue areas) to occasional moderate (green areas) rain intensity is present, and most of the rain is located west of the center of Harvey. Little or no banding is visible in the rainfield indicating that the system is still in the early stages of development. At the time of this image, Harvey was rated as a Category 1 Cyclone by the Bureau of Meteorology?s Tropical Cyclone Warning Center indicating peak wind gusts of less than 125 kph (78 mph)--equivalent to a tropical storm. The next image, top left, was taken at 07:57 UTC (5:27 pm Australian CST) on February 7, just as Harvey was hitting the coast. While the rain field still appears to be skewed to the west of the storm, the center is now surrounded by several areas of very intense rainfall (dark red areas) on the order of 2 inches per hour. Tropical cyclones rely on the heat that is released when water vapor condenses into cloud droplets, known as latent heating, to drive their circulation. These smaller cloud droplets eventually form into larger raindrops that are easier to observe. This heating is most effective at powering the storm when it is released near the center of circulation. The final image is a vertical cross section looking east through the center of Harvey taken by the PR. It shows that the area of intense rain in the previous image is associated with what scientists call a ?chimney cloud,? a deep, convective tower that extends high into the atmosphere well above the freezing level. Chimney clouds have been associated with the intensification of tropical cyclones. This particular chimney cloud extends up to an, altitude of 20 km. It can be detected by the PR as precipitation-sized particles are lofted up high by updrafts within the cloud. So far Harvey has resulted in only minor flooding in eastern parts of the Northern Territory.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Cyclone Harvey Moves Over Au
…
| Title |
Cyclone Harvey Moves Over Australia |
| Description |
Cyclone Harvey hit the northern coast Australia on Monday, February 7, 2005, near the border between the Northern Territory and Queensland along the Gulf of Carpentaria with wind gusts of up to 220 kph (132 mph). The storm was rated as a Category 3 Cyclone at landfall by the Bureau of Meteorology's Tropical Cyclone Warning Center. In November of 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission or TRMM satellite was launched to measure rainfall over the global Tropics. Armed with both passive and active sensors including the first and only precipitation radar in space, TRMM as has proven itself to be a valuable tool for examining tropical cyclones. TRMM was able to capture these unique images of Cyclone Harvey as it traversed the Gulf of Carpentaria and struck the coast of Australia. The first image, top left, was taken at 08:52 UTC (6:22 pm Australian CST) on February 6, 2005, just as Harvey was becoming better organized in the central Gulf of Carpentaria. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain rates (top down view) by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The center of Harvey falls within the TMI swath in this image. Only light (blue areas) to occasional moderate (green areas) rain intensity is present, and most of the rain is located west of the center of Harvey. Little or no banding is visible in the rainfield indicating that the system is still in the early stages of development. At the time of this image, Harvey was rated as a Category 1 Cyclone by the Bureau of Meteorology?s Tropical Cyclone Warning Center indicating peak wind gusts of less than 125 kph (78 mph)--equivalent to a tropical storm. The next image, top left, was taken at 07:57 UTC (5:27 pm Australian CST) on February 7, just as Harvey was hitting the coast. While the rain field still appears to be skewed to the west of the storm, the center is now surrounded by several areas of very intense rainfall (dark red areas) on the order of 2 inches per hour. Tropical cyclones rely on the heat that is released when water vapor condenses into cloud droplets, known as latent heating, to drive their circulation. These smaller cloud droplets eventually form into larger raindrops that are easier to observe. This heating is most effective at powering the storm when it is released near the center of circulation. The final image is a vertical cross section looking east through the center of Harvey taken by the PR. It shows that the area of intense rain in the previous image is associated with what scientists call a ?chimney cloud,? a deep, convective tower that extends high into the atmosphere well above the freezing level. Chimney clouds have been associated with the intensification of tropical cyclones. This particular chimney cloud extends up to an, altitude of 20 km. It can be detected by the PR as precipitation-sized particles are lofted up high by updrafts within the cloud. So far Harvey has resulted in only minor flooding in eastern parts of the Northern Territory.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
It is extremely rare for a powerful tropical cyclone to make landfall, weaken significantly, then later re-intensify back into a powerful storm again, but Cyclone Ingrid did just that. After crossing Queensland's Cape York Peninsula on the 10th of March 2005, Cyclone Ingrid appeared to have all but dissipated (please see our related TRMM story). On March 11, 2005, a greatly-weakened Ingrid re-emerged over open water in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In a phenomenal re-birth, Ingrid rapidly re-intensified, going from tropical storm strength back to a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in the span of just 12 hours. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite captured the top image of a rejuvenated Ingrid just off of the northeastern tip of Australia's Northern Territory at 16:05 UTC on March 11 (2:05 a.m. on March 12, Australian CST). The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). Ingrid's center appears well-defined with a tight, symmetrical eye. Heavy rain rates (red areas) are embedded in the eyewall, and good banding is evident in the arcs of moderate rain intensity (green arcs) surrounding the eye. Ingrid continued to move due west, paralleling the coast and remaining over water. This also allowed the storm to strengthen even further, becoming a Category 5 Super Cyclone on the evening of March 12 (local time). During the night and early morning of the following day, March 13 (local time), Ingrid hammered Croker Island with reports of recorded winds reaching 320 kph (198 mph), devastating the island. Fortunately, there were no reported deaths or injuries as residents took shelter. Continuing westward, Ingrid next crossed northern portions of the Cobourg Peninsula followed by Melville and Bathurst Islands north of Darwin. The center image, taken by TRMM at 15:50 UTC on March 13 (1:50 am on March 14, Australian CST) shows Ingrid right over the northern tip of Melville Island. At the time, Ingrid was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 100 knots (115 mph). An eye is not readily apparent with the storm's circulation having been disrupted by its passage over the Cobourg Peninsula and Melville Island. However, a large area of intense rain (red area) still exists near the center with prominent banding still visible in the surrounding rain field. After passing over the northern tip of Bathurst Island, Ingrid entered the Timor Sea and was once more over open water. The storm now took a more southerly course heading southwest and began to strengthen yet again. On March 14, remarkably, Ingrid reached Category 4 intensity for the 3rd time, with winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph). The final image was taken at 05:45 UTC (3:45 pm Australian CST) on March 15. Although the storm's center only falls within the TMI swath, a complete eye is clearly visible once again (green circle) with localized areas of heavy rain (red areas) embedded in the eyewall. Near the time of this image, Ingrid's sustained winds were estimated at 130 knots (150 mph). Ingrid finally came ashore on the northern coastline of Kimberley in Western Australia on the night of March 15 (local time) near Faraway Bay.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
It is extremely rare for a powerful tropical cyclone to make landfall, weaken significantly, then later re-intensify back into a powerful storm again, but Cyclone Ingrid did just that. After crossing Queensland's Cape York Peninsula on the 10th of March 2005, Cyclone Ingrid appeared to have all but dissipated (please see our related TRMM story). On March 11, 2005, a greatly-weakened Ingrid re-emerged over open water in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In a phenomenal re-birth, Ingrid rapidly re-intensified, going from tropical storm strength back to a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in the span of just 12 hours. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite captured the top image of a rejuvenated Ingrid just off of the northeastern tip of Australia's Northern Territory at 16:05 UTC on March 11 (2:05 a.m. on March 12, Australian CST). The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). Ingrid's center appears well-defined with a tight, symmetrical eye. Heavy rain rates (red areas) are embedded in the eyewall, and good banding is evident in the arcs of moderate rain intensity (green arcs) surrounding the eye. Ingrid continued to move due west, paralleling the coast and remaining over water. This also allowed the storm to strengthen even further, becoming a Category 5 Super Cyclone on the evening of March 12 (local time). During the night and early morning of the following day, March 13 (local time), Ingrid hammered Croker Island with reports of recorded winds reaching 320 kph (198 mph), devastating the island. Fortunately, there were no reported deaths or injuries as residents took shelter. Continuing westward, Ingrid next crossed northern portions of the Cobourg Peninsula followed by Melville and Bathurst Islands north of Darwin. The center image, taken by TRMM at 15:50 UTC on March 13 (1:50 am on March 14, Australian CST) shows Ingrid right over the northern tip of Melville Island. At the time, Ingrid was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 100 knots (115 mph). An eye is not readily apparent with the storm's circulation having been disrupted by its passage over the Cobourg Peninsula and Melville Island. However, a large area of intense rain (red area) still exists near the center with prominent banding still visible in the surrounding rain field. After passing over the northern tip of Bathurst Island, Ingrid entered the Timor Sea and was once more over open water. The storm now took a more southerly course heading southwest and began to strengthen yet again. On March 14, remarkably, Ingrid reached Category 4 intensity for the 3rd time, with winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph). The final image was taken at 05:45 UTC (3:45 pm Australian CST) on March 15. Although the storm's center only falls within the TMI swath, a complete eye is clearly visible once again (green circle) with localized areas of heavy rain (red areas) embedded in the eyewall. Near the time of this image, Ingrid's sustained winds were estimated at 130 knots (150 mph). Ingrid finally came ashore on the northern coastline of Kimberley in Western Australia on the night of March 15 (local time) near Faraway Bay.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
|
Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
It is extremely rare for a powerful tropical cyclone to make landfall, weaken significantly, then later re-intensify back into a powerful storm again, but Cyclone Ingrid did just that. After crossing Queensland's Cape York Peninsula on the 10th of March 2005, Cyclone Ingrid appeared to have all but dissipated (please see our related TRMM story). On March 11, 2005, a greatly-weakened Ingrid re-emerged over open water in the Gulf of Carpentaria. In a phenomenal re-birth, Ingrid rapidly re-intensified, going from tropical storm strength back to a Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in the span of just 12 hours. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite captured the top image of a rejuvenated Ingrid just off of the northeastern tip of Australia's Northern Territory at 16:05 UTC on March 11 (2:05 a.m. on March 12, Australian CST). The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). Ingrid's center appears well-defined with a tight, symmetrical eye. Heavy rain rates (red areas) are embedded in the eyewall, and good banding is evident in the arcs of moderate rain intensity (green arcs) surrounding the eye. Ingrid continued to move due west, paralleling the coast and remaining over water. This also allowed the storm to strengthen even further, becoming a Category 5 Super Cyclone on the evening of March 12 (local time). During the night and early morning of the following day, March 13 (local time), Ingrid hammered Croker Island with reports of recorded winds reaching 320 kph (198 mph), devastating the island. Fortunately, there were no reported deaths or injuries as residents took shelter. Continuing westward, Ingrid next crossed northern portions of the Cobourg Peninsula followed by Melville and Bathurst Islands north of Darwin. The center image, taken by TRMM at 15:50 UTC on March 13 (1:50 am on March 14, Australian CST) shows Ingrid right over the northern tip of Melville Island. At the time, Ingrid was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 100 knots (115 mph). An eye is not readily apparent with the storm's circulation having been disrupted by its passage over the Cobourg Peninsula and Melville Island. However, a large area of intense rain (red area) still exists near the center with prominent banding still visible in the surrounding rain field. After passing over the northern tip of Bathurst Island, Ingrid entered the Timor Sea and was once more over open water. The storm now took a more southerly course heading southwest and began to strengthen yet again. On March 14, remarkably, Ingrid reached Category 4 intensity for the 3rd time, with winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph). The final image was taken at 05:45 UTC (3:45 pm Australian CST) on March 15. Although the storm's center only falls within the TMI swath, a complete eye is clearly visible once again (green circle) with localized areas of heavy rain (red areas) embedded in the eyewall. Near the time of this image, Ingrid's sustained winds were estimated at 130 knots (150 mph). Ingrid finally came ashore on the northern coastline of Kimberley in Western Australia on the night of March 15 (local time) near Faraway Bay.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
Cyclone Ingrid crossed the eastern shoreline of Queensland, Australia just south of the town of Lockhart River on the morning of March 10, 2005, (local time) as a powerful Category 4 storm. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Cyclone Warning Centre in Queensland estimated the storm's wind gusts to be as strong as 240 kilometers per hour (149 mph). Fortunately, damage was not widespread because of the compact size of the storm and the sparse population in the impacted region. Five people did drown, however, when their boat capsized in heavy seas south of Papua New Guinea. This series of images shows Cyclone Ingrid as it developed in the Coral Sea and moved over Queensland. The images were acquired by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, which, since its launch in the fall of 1997, has provided unprecedented and valuable information on tropical cyclones around the tropics. With an active radar and a passive microwave sensor, TRMM can peer into the heart of these storms and relay important details on storm structure and location to forecasters. The upper left image was taken at 17:31 UTC on March 6, as Ingrid was intensifying over the Coral Sea. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The center of Ingrid falls within the TMI swath in this image. TRMM shows that Ingrid already has a well-defined eye outlined by an area of moderate rain intensity (green areas) with evidence of good banding surrounding the eye (green arcs). At the time of this image, Ingrid was the equivalent of a minimal typhoon with maximum sustained winds estimated at 65 knots (75 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The upper right image was taken on March 7, at 08:29 UTC. The PR shows that there are heavy rain rates (red areas) in the southwestern part of the eyewall and in a rainband just south of the center. The eye is small and symmetrical. In addition, Ingrid itself is shown to be a small storm. These rather small, compact cyclones are often referred to as "midget" cyclones. Ingrid, however, was now an intense cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon. As Ingrid continued to move east towards Australia it strengthened further before starting to weaken as it neared the coast and made landfall on the March 10. The lower left image shows Ingrid on March 9, just before the storm's center moved ashore. The lower right image was taken at 07:11 UTC (5:11 pm Australian CST) on March 10. After having crossed to the western side of the Cape York Peninsula, Ingrid weakened substantially. There is no longer any evidence of an eye and no signs of organization in the rain field., Ingrid is expected to re-emerge over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria and head for the Northern Territory.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
|
Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
Cyclone Ingrid crossed the eastern shoreline of Queensland, Australia just south of the town of Lockhart River on the morning of March 10, 2005, (local time) as a powerful Category 4 storm. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Cyclone Warning Centre in Queensland estimated the storm's wind gusts to be as strong as 240 kilometers per hour (149 mph). Fortunately, damage was not widespread because of the compact size of the storm and the sparse population in the impacted region. Five people did drown, however, when their boat capsized in heavy seas south of Papua New Guinea. This series of images shows Cyclone Ingrid as it developed in the Coral Sea and moved over Queensland. The images were acquired by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, which, since its launch in the fall of 1997, has provided unprecedented and valuable information on tropical cyclones around the tropics. With an active radar and a passive microwave sensor, TRMM can peer into the heart of these storms and relay important details on storm structure and location to forecasters. The upper left image was taken at 17:31 UTC on March 6, as Ingrid was intensifying over the Coral Sea. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The center of Ingrid falls within the TMI swath in this image. TRMM shows that Ingrid already has a well-defined eye outlined by an area of moderate rain intensity (green areas) with evidence of good banding surrounding the eye (green arcs). At the time of this image, Ingrid was the equivalent of a minimal typhoon with maximum sustained winds estimated at 65 knots (75 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The upper right image was taken on March 7, at 08:29 UTC. The PR shows that there are heavy rain rates (red areas) in the southwestern part of the eyewall and in a rainband just south of the center. The eye is small and symmetrical. In addition, Ingrid itself is shown to be a small storm. These rather small, compact cyclones are often referred to as "midget" cyclones. Ingrid, however, was now an intense cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon. As Ingrid continued to move east towards Australia it strengthened further before starting to weaken as it neared the coast and made landfall on the March 10. The lower left image shows Ingrid on March 9, just before the storm's center moved ashore. The lower right image was taken at 07:11 UTC (5:11 pm Australian CST) on March 10. After having crossed to the western side of the Cape York Peninsula, Ingrid weakened substantially. There is no longer any evidence of an eye and no signs of organization in the rain field., Ingrid is expected to re-emerge over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria and head for the Northern Territory.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
|
Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
Cyclone Ingrid crossed the eastern shoreline of Queensland, Australia just south of the town of Lockhart River on the morning of March 10, 2005, (local time) as a powerful Category 4 storm. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Cyclone Warning Centre in Queensland estimated the storm's wind gusts to be as strong as 240 kilometers per hour (149 mph). Fortunately, damage was not widespread because of the compact size of the storm and the sparse population in the impacted region. Five people did drown, however, when their boat capsized in heavy seas south of Papua New Guinea. This series of images shows Cyclone Ingrid as it developed in the Coral Sea and moved over Queensland. The images were acquired by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, which, since its launch in the fall of 1997, has provided unprecedented and valuable information on tropical cyclones around the tropics. With an active radar and a passive microwave sensor, TRMM can peer into the heart of these storms and relay important details on storm structure and location to forecasters. The upper left image was taken at 17:31 UTC on March 6, as Ingrid was intensifying over the Coral Sea. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The center of Ingrid falls within the TMI swath in this image. TRMM shows that Ingrid already has a well-defined eye outlined by an area of moderate rain intensity (green areas) with evidence of good banding surrounding the eye (green arcs). At the time of this image, Ingrid was the equivalent of a minimal typhoon with maximum sustained winds estimated at 65 knots (75 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The upper right image was taken on March 7, at 08:29 UTC. The PR shows that there are heavy rain rates (red areas) in the southwestern part of the eyewall and in a rainband just south of the center. The eye is small and symmetrical. In addition, Ingrid itself is shown to be a small storm. These rather small, compact cyclones are often referred to as "midget" cyclones. Ingrid, however, was now an intense cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon. As Ingrid continued to move east towards Australia it strengthened further before starting to weaken as it neared the coast and made landfall on the March 10. The lower left image shows Ingrid on March 9, just before the storm's center moved ashore. The lower right image was taken at 07:11 UTC (5:11 pm Australian CST) on March 10. After having crossed to the western side of the Cape York Peninsula, Ingrid weakened substantially. There is no longer any evidence of an eye and no signs of organization in the rain field., Ingrid is expected to re-emerge over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria and head for the Northern Territory.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
|
Cyclone Ingrid
| Title |
Cyclone Ingrid |
| Description |
Cyclone Ingrid crossed the eastern shoreline of Queensland, Australia just south of the town of Lockhart River on the morning of March 10, 2005, (local time) as a powerful Category 4 storm. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology's Cyclone Warning Centre in Queensland estimated the storm's wind gusts to be as strong as 240 kilometers per hour (149 mph). Fortunately, damage was not widespread because of the compact size of the storm and the sparse population in the impacted region. Five people did drown, however, when their boat capsized in heavy seas south of Papua New Guinea. This series of images shows Cyclone Ingrid as it developed in the Coral Sea and moved over Queensland. The images were acquired by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, which, since its launch in the fall of 1997, has provided unprecedented and valuable information on tropical cyclones around the tropics. With an active radar and a passive microwave sensor, TRMM can peer into the heart of these storms and relay important details on storm structure and location to forecasters. The upper left image was taken at 17:31 UTC on March 6, as Ingrid was intensifying over the Coral Sea. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The center of Ingrid falls within the TMI swath in this image. TRMM shows that Ingrid already has a well-defined eye outlined by an area of moderate rain intensity (green areas) with evidence of good banding surrounding the eye (green arcs). At the time of this image, Ingrid was the equivalent of a minimal typhoon with maximum sustained winds estimated at 65 knots (75 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The upper right image was taken on March 7, at 08:29 UTC. The PR shows that there are heavy rain rates (red areas) in the southwestern part of the eyewall and in a rainband just south of the center. The eye is small and symmetrical. In addition, Ingrid itself is shown to be a small storm. These rather small, compact cyclones are often referred to as "midget" cyclones. Ingrid, however, was now an intense cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 typhoon. As Ingrid continued to move east towards Australia it strengthened further before starting to weaken as it neared the coast and made landfall on the March 10. The lower left image shows Ingrid on March 9, just before the storm's center moved ashore. The lower right image was taken at 07:11 UTC (5:11 pm Australian CST) on March 10. After having crossed to the western side of the Cape York Peninsula, Ingrid weakened substantially. There is no longer any evidence of an eye and no signs of organization in the rain field., Ingrid is expected to re-emerge over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria and head for the Northern Territory.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Cyclones in the Pacific
| Title |
Cyclones in the Pacific |
| Description |
Two cyclones, Olaf a powerful Category 4 cyclone and Nancy a weaker but still strong Category 2 cyclone, are together threatening the Cook Islands and the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific. This spectacular image from TRMM, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite, shows Cyclone Olaf in the upper left as it is approaching the islands of Samoa and Cyclone Nancy in the lower right as it heads towards Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The image was taken at 15:34 UTC on February 15, 2005, and shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity as seen from above by the TRMM satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the first and only precipitation radar in space, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). At the time of this image, Olaf was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 120 knots (138 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and was in the process of intensifying. Nancy, meanwhile, was a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 95 knots (109 mph) and was beginning to weaken. These characterizations are supported by TRMM, which shows that Olaf has much better banding in the rain field as evidenced by the green arcs of moderate rain intensity and a tight, closed eye (green circle). Nancy exhibits no well-defined eye, and the banding is much less evident. When two cyclones come within close proximity and their circulations begin to interact with each other, two possible interactions can occur. One interaction is known as the Fujiwara effect, wherein the cyclones begin circling around each another. The other possibility is that the outflow from one storm impedes the outflow from the other storm, weakening it. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Image produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Daniel
| Title |
Hurricane Daniel |
| Description |
On July 18, Daniel became the third hurricane to form in the East Pacific during 2006, setting the pace of hurricane formation at about average for the region. It was already the second major hurricane in the East Pacific, which put 2006 well ahead of the pace set in 2005, during which only two major hurricanes formed for the entire season. After intensifying from a tropical depression that was tracking westward across the eastern Pacific away from land, Daniel became a named tropical storm on July 17, 2006, about 1,400 miles south of Baja California. Daniel continued to strengthen and became a minimal hurricane on the afternoon of July 18 (local time). The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) captured these images of Hurricane Daniel on July 19 at 3:29 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (10:29 UTC), just before the storm intensified from Category 1 to a Category 4 storm. The top image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top-down view) within the storm. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, and rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. These rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. Circles of red and green trace out the tight circling bands of rain. This tight banding, along with a nearly complete inner eyewall (innermost green arc), is evidence that Daniel was very well organized with a well-developed circulation. There is also an area of intense rain (dark red) within the eyewall. At the time of this image, the National Hurricane Center [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ ], reported that Daniel was a strong Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reported at 150 kilometers per hour (92 mph or 80 knots). The lower image is a three-dimensional depiction of the storm from the same overpass. The image was created from data taken by the TRMM Precipitation Radar, which has the ability to look at vertical precipitation structures. The radar reveals an area of deep convection, where water-laden air is rising high and fast, right near Daniel's center. This area shows up as red peaks that are about 15 kilometers high. The peaks are associated with the area of heavy rain within the eyewall in the previous image. The presence of such towers can be a precursor for intensification when they are near the storm's core. This was indeed the case with Daniel, which steadily increased in intensity after these images were taken, reaching Category 4 intensity on July 20, with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/hr (138 mph or 120 knots) as reported by the National Hurricane Center. Daniel was expected to gradually turn to the northwest and weaken over cooler waters. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been providing valuable images and information on tropical cyclones around the Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors, including the first precipitation radar in space. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Daniel
| Title |
Hurricane Daniel |
| Description |
On July 18, Daniel became the third hurricane to form in the East Pacific during 2006, setting the pace of hurricane formation at about average for the region. It was already the second major hurricane in the East Pacific, which put 2006 well ahead of the pace set in 2005, during which only two major hurricanes formed for the entire season. After intensifying from a tropical depression that was tracking westward across the eastern Pacific away from land, Daniel became a named tropical storm on July 17, 2006, about 1,400 miles south of Baja California. Daniel continued to strengthen and became a minimal hurricane on the afternoon of July 18 (local time). The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) captured these images of Hurricane Daniel on July 19 at 3:29 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (10:29 UTC), just before the storm intensified from Category 1 to a Category 4 storm. The top image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top-down view) within the storm. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, and rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. These rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. Circles of red and green trace out the tight circling bands of rain. This tight banding, along with a nearly complete inner eyewall (innermost green arc), is evidence that Daniel was very well organized with a well-developed circulation. There is also an area of intense rain (dark red) within the eyewall. At the time of this image, the National Hurricane Center [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ ], reported that Daniel was a strong Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reported at 150 kilometers per hour (92 mph or 80 knots). The lower image is a three-dimensional depiction of the storm from the same overpass. The image was created from data taken by the TRMM Precipitation Radar, which has the ability to look at vertical precipitation structures. The radar reveals an area of deep convection, where water-laden air is rising high and fast, right near Daniel's center. This area shows up as red peaks that are about 15 kilometers high. The peaks are associated with the area of heavy rain within the eyewall in the previous image. The presence of such towers can be a precursor for intensification when they are near the storm's core. This was indeed the case with Daniel, which steadily increased in intensity after these images were taken, reaching Category 4 intensity on July 20, with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/hr (138 mph or 120 knots) as reported by the National Hurricane Center. Daniel was expected to gradually turn to the northwest and weaken over cooler waters. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been providing valuable images and information on tropical cyclones around the Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors, including the first precipitation radar in space. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Daniel
| Title |
Hurricane Daniel |
| Description |
On July 18, Daniel became the third hurricane to form in the East Pacific during 2006, setting the pace of hurricane formation at about average for the region. It was already the second major hurricane in the East Pacific, which put 2006 well ahead of the pace set in 2005, during which only two major hurricanes formed for the entire season. After intensifying from a tropical depression that was tracking westward across the eastern Pacific away from land, Daniel became a named tropical storm on July 17, 2006, about 1,400 miles south of Baja California. Daniel continued to strengthen and became a minimal hurricane on the afternoon of July 18 (local time). The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) captured these images of Hurricane Daniel on July 19 at 3:29 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (10:29 UTC), just before the storm intensified from Category 1 to a Category 4 storm. The top image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top-down view) within the storm. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, and rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. These rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. Circles of red and green trace out the tight circling bands of rain. This tight banding, along with a nearly complete inner eyewall (innermost green arc), is evidence that Daniel was very well organized with a well-developed circulation. There is also an area of intense rain (dark red) within the eyewall. At the time of this image, the National Hurricane Center [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ ], reported that Daniel was a strong Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reported at 150 kilometers per hour (92 mph or 80 knots). The lower image is a three-dimensional depiction of the storm from the same overpass. The image was created from data taken by the TRMM Precipitation Radar, which has the ability to look at vertical precipitation structures. The radar reveals an area of deep convection, where water-laden air is rising high and fast, right near Daniel's center. This area shows up as red peaks that are about 15 kilometers high. The peaks are associated with the area of heavy rain within the eyewall in the previous image. The presence of such towers can be a precursor for intensification when they are near the storm's core. This was indeed the case with Daniel, which steadily increased in intensity after these images were taken, reaching Category 4 intensity on July 20, with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/hr (138 mph or 120 knots) as reported by the National Hurricane Center. Daniel was expected to gradually turn to the northwest and weaken over cooler waters. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been providing valuable images and information on tropical cyclones around the Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors, including the first precipitation radar in space. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Dennis
| Title |
Hurricane Dennis |
| Description |
On the heals of the devastating 2004 hurricane season, the 2005 season is so far off to a fast and furious start with the emergence of major hurricane early in the season. By July 8, 2005, Hurricane Dennis was an intense Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale and was passing directly over Cuba, also hit by Hurricane Charley in 2004. The storm is expected to emerge into the Gulf of Mexico as a major hurricane, posing a powerful threat to the Gulf Coast of the United States. This image shows Dennis as it was strengthening from a tropical storm into a hurricane on July 6, 2005. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite captured this image at 5:31 p.m. EDT (21:31 UTC). The image reveals rain rates associated with Dennis, with heavy rains shown in red. The rain field surrounding the storm was becoming symmetrical, wrapping around the center of circulation. TRMM also reveals an area of intense rainfall (dark red area) very near the center of Dennis that is likely associated with a convective burst, an intense section of the storm that may be a precursor to intensification. Hurricanes act as large heat engines. The fuel for these engines comes from the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere. As water vapor condenses into the tiny cloud droplets that lead to precipitation (shown here as rainfall), heat is released. This heat, known as latent heat, is what drives the circulation of the storm. In general, the more heat that is being released, the more intense the storm will be. This heating is most effective in driving the storm if it occurs near the center of the storm as is the case shown here with Dennis. Less than an hour after this image was taken, Dennis was re-classified as a hurricane with maximum sustained winds measured at 80 miles per hour by a hurricane hunter aircraft. Launched in November of 1997 to measure rainfall over the global tropics, TRMM has proven itself to be a valuable platform for observing tropical cyclones. Rain rates in the center part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar that can measure precipitation from space. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS).TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA. NASA image produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Dennis
| Title |
Hurricane Dennis |
| Description |
Hurricane Dennis hit Cuba on the evening of July 8, 2005 as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained winds of 125 knots (144 mph). The storm was responsible for 16 fatalities in Cuba. With its circulation disrupted by the island, Dennis emerged off of Cuba and moved into the Gulf of Mexico in the early morning hours of the 9th as a much weaker storm. At one point, Dennis was reduced to a Category 1 storm with sustained winds down to 80 knots (92 mph), as reported by the National Hurricane Center. This image shows a rejuvinated Hurricane Dennis at 21:59 UTC (5:59 p.m. EDT) on July 9, 2005. At the time, the storm's winds were back up to 90 knots (104 mph). Rain intensity, as measured by sensors on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, is indicated in the color overlay. The eye is well formed and contains intense 2-inch-per-hour rain rates (dark red area) in the northeastern part of the eyewall, an indication that strong heating is occurring in the core and is reinvigorating the system. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been monitoring the progress of Dennis since it formed in the eastern Caribbean. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar measuring precipitation from space. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). Launched in 1997 to measure rainfall over the Tropics, TRMM continues to prove itself as an excellent platform for observing tropical cyclones. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Dennis
| Title |
Hurricane Dennis |
| Description |
After striking Cuba on July 8, 2005, Hurricane Dennis had lost strength from passing over land. However in the Gulf of Mexico, it recovered and strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm once again during the early morning hours of July 9th, with maximum sustained winds back up to 125 knots (144 mph). Fortunately for residents in the Florida panhandle, Dennis weakened just before making landfall due to the storm's passage over slightly cooler water. Dennis made landfall around 3:30 p.m. CDT on July 10th just east of Pensacola, Florida, as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. This image shows Hurricane Dennis at 22:41 UTC (5:31 p.m. CDT) on July 10th, just after the storm had made landfall. The eye is already open to the south as hurricanes tend to quickly weaken over land, and almost all of the rain is occurring north and east of the center (green and blue areas). Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar measuring precipitation from space. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). This image shows a rejuvenated Dennis with maximum sustained winds back up to 90 knots (104 mph). The eye is well formed and contains intense 2-inch-per-hour rain rates (dark red area) in the northeastern part of the eyewall, an indication that strong heating is occurring in the core and is reinvigorating the system. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been monitoring the progress of Dennis since it formed in the eastern Caribbean. Launched in 1997 to measure rainfall over the Tropics, TRMM continues to prove itself as an excellent platform for observing tropical cyclones. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Katrina
| Title |
Hurricane Katrina |
| Description |
The 2005 hurricane season will long be remembered both for the record-breaking number of early storms and for the emergence of a powerful Category 5 hurricane in the central Gulf of Mexico—Hurricane Katrina. NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM) captured this three-dimensional view of the storm early on August 28, 2005, as Katrina was strengthening into a Category 4 storm in the Central Gulf of Mexico. The image shows a cut-away view of the eye of the storm with cloud height on one side of the eye and rain rates on the other. At the time of the image, Katrina was still a Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds reported of 100 knots (115 mph). TRMM reveals that Katrina had a closed eye surrounded by concentric rings of heavy rain (red areas) that are associated with outer rain bands. The intense rain near the core of the storm—shown in the "flat" half of the image—indicates where heat, known as latent heat, is being released into the storm. This latent heat release is what drives the storm's circulation. The 3D perspective of Katrina shows the height of rain columns within the hurricane. Tall rain columns provide a clue that the storm is strengthening. As water vapor rises, it cools and condenses into rain, releasing heat. It is this heat that feeds the storm. The higher water vapor rises before cooling, the more intense the storm tends to be. In this image, two isolated tall towers (in red) are visible: one in an outer rain band and the other in the northeastern part of the eyewall. The eyewall tower rises 16 kilometers above the ocean's surface and is associated with an area of intense rainfall. Towers this tall near the core are often an indication of intensification, as was true with Katrina, which became a Category 4 storm soon after this image was taken. Launched in November 1997 to measure rainfall over the global tropics, TRMM has shown itself to be a valuable instrument for observing tropical cyclones. In this image, rain rates in the central portion of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar capable of measuring precipitation from space. The PR is able to provide fine resolution rainfall data and details on the storm's vertical structure. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). To see more TRMM images of Katrina, please visit NASA's TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] web site. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. |
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Hurricane Katrina
| Title |
Hurricane Katrina |
| Description |
The 2005 hurricane season will long be remembered both for the record-breaking number of early storms and for the emergence of a powerful Category 5 hurricane in the central Gulf of Mexico—Hurricane Katrina. NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM) captured this three-dimensional view of the storm early on August 28, 2005, as Katrina was strengthening into a Category 4 storm in the Central Gulf of Mexico. The image shows a cut-away view of the eye of the storm with cloud height on one side of the eye and rain rates on the other. At the time of the image, Katrina was still a Category 3 storm, with maximum sustained winds reported of 100 knots (115 mph). TRMM reveals that Katrina had a closed eye surrounded by concentric rings of heavy rain (red areas) that are associated with outer rain bands. The intense rain near the core of the storm—shown in the "flat" half of the image—indicates where heat, known as latent heat, is being released into the storm. This latent heat release is what drives the storm's circulation. The 3D perspective of Katrina shows the height of rain columns within the hurricane. Tall rain columns provide a clue that the storm is strengthening. As water vapor rises, it cools and condenses into rain, releasing heat. It is this heat that feeds the storm. The higher water vapor rises before cooling, the more intense the storm tends to be. In this image, two isolated tall towers (in red) are visible: one in an outer rain band and the other in the northeastern part of the eyewall. The eyewall tower rises 16 kilometers above the ocean's surface and is associated with an area of intense rainfall. Towers this tall near the core are often an indication of intensification, as was true with Katrina, which became a Category 4 storm soon after this image was taken. Launched in November 1997 to measure rainfall over the global tropics, TRMM has shown itself to be a valuable instrument for observing tropical cyclones. In this image, rain rates in the central portion of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar capable of measuring precipitation from space. The PR is able to provide fine resolution rainfall data and details on the storm's vertical structure. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). To see more TRMM images of Katrina, please visit NASA's TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] web site. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. |
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Hurricane Ophelia
| Title |
Hurricane Ophelia |
| Description |
Over the second week of September, Ophelia meandered off of the southeast coast of the United States due to weak steering currents. The system, which began as a depression over the Bahamas on September 6, 2005, twice stalled out and made loops: once just east of Cape Canveral, Florida, and the other farther out to sea east of Georgia. Ophelia also flip-flopped several times between a strong tropical storm and a weak Category 1 hurricane. Despite its very slow movement, which usually leads to weakening due to upwelling of cooler water, Ophelia has maintained itself as a result of warm waters and its proximity to the Gulf Stream. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (or TRMM) satellite has been following Ophelia's progress along the East Coast. This image shows the height of the precipitation columns within Ophelia with a cutaway view through the southern part of the eye. The large eye is easily visible in the center along with the area of intense rain in the southwest corner of the eye (dark red area). However, there are no tall towers surrounding the eye that might indicate imminent strengthening. Launched in 1997 to measure rainfall over the tropics, TRMM has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring and studying tropical cyclones. TRMM's compliment of instruments includes the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar capable of measuring precipitation from space, and the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI), a passive intrument that can also measure rainfall. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Rita
| Title |
Hurricane Rita |
| Description |
The onslaught from the 2005 hurricane season continued with the arrival of Hurricane Rita, the second Category 5 storm to threaten the Gulf of Mexico in less than a month. As it was passing south of the Florida Keys on September 20, 2005, Hurricane Rita was in the process of slowly intensifying from a Category 1 storm into a Category 2 storm. However, upon entering the Gulf of Mexico, Rita tapped into a deep layer of very warm water located in the southeast part of the Gulf associated with the Loop Current. This allowed Rita to undergo a process known as rapid deepening, which transformed it into a powerful Category 5 hurricane with the 3rd lowest air pressure ever recorded in an Atlantic Basin storm. Fortunately, as Rita moved across the Gulf away from the loop current, it slowly began to weaken. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed Rita at 13:45 UTC (9:45 am EDT) on September 23, 2005 as the hurricane was passing south of the central Louisiana coast. The center of the storm lies within the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) swath. Areas of very heavy rain (dark red areas) associated with an outer rainband are approaching the the Louisiana coast. The eyewall is not as symmetrical as in earlier observations, one sign of a weakening storm. Rita, however, was still strong with sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour (140 miles per hour) when this image was taken. The TRMM satellite is one of many being used to monitor hurricanes and typhoons. Launched in November of 1997 to measure rainfall over the tropics, TRMM has proven to be a valuable platform for observing tropical cyclones and can provide unique images and information on these storms. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and captioned by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Rita
| Title |
Hurricane Rita |
| Description |
After the immense devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina, all eyes were on Hurricane Rita as it passed over the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico. Rita formed from a tropical disturbance east of the Turks and Caicos Islands into a depression (TD #18) on September 17, 2005. The system moved west through the Caicos and strengthened into a tropical storm on the 18th before entering into the southern Bahamas. This image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity within Rita measured by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission's (TRMM) sensors. Rain rates in the center part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar capable of measuring precipitation from space. The PR can provide fine-resolution rainfall data and details on the vertical structure of the storm. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The image was taken at 08:28 UTC (4:28 a.m. EDT) on September 20 as Rita was passing through the Florida Straits. Although the center of Rita does not fall within the PR swath, it is obvious from TRMM that Rita is becoming better organized. A ragged eye is present, surrounded by areas of moderate rain (green areas) with good banding in the outer rainbands, all signs that the storm's circulation is improving. Rita was still a tropical storm at the time of this image, with sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (70 miles per hour). By early afternoon the same day, Rita would become a Category 2 hurricane as it passed south of the Florida Keys and headed for the Gulf of Mexico. The TRMM satellite is one of a number of satellites being used to monitor Hurricane Rita and storms like it. Launched in November of 1997 to measure rainfall over the tropics, TRMM has proven itself to be a valuable platform for observing tropical cyclones, which include hurricanes and typhoons. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Wilma
| Title |
Hurricane Wilma |
| Description |
When Wilma became a named tropical storm on October 17, 2005, it tied a record dating back to 1933 for the most named storms in a season. When Wilma became a hurricane on October 18, it tied the record dating back to 1969 for the most hurricanes in a season. However, when Wilma shot from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane on the morning of October 19, it broke the all-time record for the lowest pressure ever measured in the Atlantic Basin. A hurricane's central pressure is an indicator of its intensity—the lower the pressure, the more intense the storm. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed Wilma approaching the Yucatan Peninsula at 00:55 UTC on October 21, 2005 (8:55 pm EDT October 20, 2005). This 3-D perspective of Wilma shows a cut-away view of the eye, with cloud height on the top right side of the storm and rain rates in the lower left side of the storm. TRMM measures the cloud height with radar, which detects the location of precipitation (and therefore clouds). In this image, clouds tower over 10 kilometers above the ocean around the eye. The deep ring of red at the base of the eye shows that heavy rain is falling in the same area. TRMM reveals that Wilma had a well-defined, closed inner eye of intense rain surrounded by larger concentric rings of more moderate rain. (The concentric rings are easier to see in the version of the image that does not include the 3-D cloud height overlay, available here.) The sharply curved features in the rain field surrounding the inner eye are the mark of well-developed, intense circulation. At the time of the image, Wilma was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds reported at 240 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour) by the National Hurricane Center. At its height, Wilma had sustained winds of 280 km/hr (175 mph). At the time these images were taken, Wilma was drifting very slowly to the northwest towards Cozumel, Mexico. The storm was expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico as a weaker hurricane before making landfall along the west coast of Florida. The TRMM satellite is one of many satellites monitoring hurricanes and typhoons. Launched in November of 1997 to measure rainfall over the Tropics, TRMM has a number of instruments that are valuable for observing tropical cyclones. In these images, rain rates in the central portion of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR). Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS).TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Hurricane Wilma
| Title |
Hurricane Wilma |
| Description |
When Wilma became a named tropical storm on October 17, 2005, it tied a record dating back to 1933 for the most named storms in a season. When Wilma became a hurricane on October 18, it tied the record dating back to 1969 for the most hurricanes in a season. However, when Wilma shot from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane on the morning of October 19, it broke the all-time record for the lowest pressure ever measured in the Atlantic Basin. A hurricane's central pressure is an indicator of its intensity—the lower the pressure, the more intense the storm. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed Wilma approaching the Yucatan Peninsula at 00:55 UTC on October 21, 2005 (8:55 pm EDT October 20, 2005). This 3-D perspective of Wilma shows a cut-away view of the eye, with cloud height on the top right side of the storm and rain rates in the lower left side of the storm. TRMM measures the cloud height with radar, which detects the location of precipitation (and therefore clouds). In this image, clouds tower over 10 kilometers above the ocean around the eye. The deep ring of red at the base of the eye shows that heavy rain is falling in the same area. TRMM reveals that Wilma had a well-defined, closed inner eye of intense rain surrounded by larger concentric rings of more moderate rain. (The concentric rings are easier to see in the version of the image that does not include the 3-D cloud height overlay, available here.) The sharply curved features in the rain field surrounding the inner eye are the mark of well-developed, intense circulation. At the time of the image, Wilma was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds reported at 240 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour) by the National Hurricane Center. At its height, Wilma had sustained winds of 280 km/hr (175 mph). At the time these images were taken, Wilma was drifting very slowly to the northwest towards Cozumel, Mexico. The storm was expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico as a weaker hurricane before making landfall along the west coast of Florida. The TRMM satellite is one of many satellites monitoring hurricanes and typhoons. Launched in November of 1997 to measure rainfall over the Tropics, TRMM has a number of instruments that are valuable for observing tropical cyclones. In these images, rain rates in the central portion of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR). Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS).TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Super Typhoon Haitang
| Title |
Super Typhoon Haitang |
| Description |
Taiwan suffered a direct hit from Typhoon Haitang on the afternoon of Monday July 18, 2005 local time with sustained winds reported at 184 kph (114 mph) by the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau. The storm cut directly across the north central part of the island and after crossing the Taiwan Straits is expected to make landfall again on the southeast coast of China. This image shows the storm at 03:59 UTC on the 17th of July as it approaches Taiwan. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while those in the outer portion are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The PR shows a small, well-defined eye surrounded by tight concentric bands of moderate (green) to heavy (red) rain, especially to the northeast of the center. These features are indicative of a mature intense cyclone. At the time of this image, Haitang's sustained winds were estimated to be 140 knots (161 mph) by Joint Typhoon Warning Center, making it a Category 5 super typhoon. Launched in 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has served as a valuable platform for monitoring tropical cyclones. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Tropical Cyclone Percy
| Title |
Tropical Cyclone Percy |
| Description |
Percy, a powerful Category 4 cyclone, is the latest cyclone to threaten the South Pacific. In early February Cyclone Meena hit the Cook Islands, and in mid-February Cyclone Nancy also skirted the Cook Islands while Cyclone Olaf brushed the islands of Samoa and American Samoa. Percy started out as a tropical depression on February 24, 2005, near Tuvalu, just east of the international dateline. The system moved east-southeast staying north of Samoa and steadily increased in strength. It became a cyclone on February 25 and, two days later, grew into a powerful Category 4 cyclone with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Percy then slowed down, weakened slightly and battered the atolls of Nassau and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands before turning south on February 28. Percy regained Category 4 strength on March 1, and then further intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm on the 2nd with maximum sustained winds estimated at 140 knots (161 mph). In November of 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, or TRMM satellite, was launched to measure rainfall over the global tropics. TRMM has also turned out to be an excellent observational platform for studying and monitoring tropical cyclones, as shown by this series of images of Cyclone Percy. The top left image, taken at 08:29 UTC on February 28, just as Percy was raking the Nassau and Pukapuka atolls, shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the first and only precipitation radar in space, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM shows an asymmetrical eye with intense rain (dark red area) in the northern part of the eyewall. This rain indicates where heat is being released into the storm. Known as "latent heat," it is the heat released when water vapor condenses into liquid cloud droplets. It is most effective in driving the cyclone's circulation when it is released near the center as is the case shown here by TRMM. The right image was taken at the same time by the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), and shows a vertical cross section through the center of the storm looking east. The intense rain (darker red area) is associated with the tallest towers in the northern eyewall. The broad yellow area indicating moderate rain is associated with an outer rainband. At the time of these images, Percy was a Category 3 storm with sustained winds estimated at 105 knots (121 mph). The lower left image was taken at 08:18 UTC on March 2, 2005. At this time Percy was a strong Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 130 knots (150 mph). The center of the storm does not fall within the PR swath, which has a higher horizontal resolution than the TMI. However, the TMI is still able to show what appears to a double, eyewall. Mature, intense tropical cyclones undergo what it known as eyewall replacement cycles wherein an outer eyewall forms as a ring surrounding the inner eyewall. The outer eyewall eventually contracts and replaces the inner eyewall. The two eyewalls are evident as the two concentric rings of moderate rain intensity (green areas).TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Tropical Cyclone Percy
| Title |
Tropical Cyclone Percy |
| Description |
Percy, a powerful Category 4 cyclone, is the latest cyclone to threaten the South Pacific. In early February Cyclone Meena hit the Cook Islands, and in mid-February Cyclone Nancy also skirted the Cook Islands while Cyclone Olaf brushed the islands of Samoa and American Samoa. Percy started out as a tropical depression on February 24, 2005, near Tuvalu, just east of the international dateline. The system moved east-southeast staying north of Samoa and steadily increased in strength. It became a cyclone on February 25 and, two days later, grew into a powerful Category 4 cyclone with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Percy then slowed down, weakened slightly and battered the atolls of Nassau and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands before turning south on February 28. Percy regained Category 4 strength on March 1, and then further intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm on the 2nd with maximum sustained winds estimated at 140 knots (161 mph). In November of 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, or TRMM satellite, was launched to measure rainfall over the global tropics. TRMM has also turned out to be an excellent observational platform for studying and monitoring tropical cyclones, as shown by this series of images of Cyclone Percy. The top left image, taken at 08:29 UTC on February 28, just as Percy was raking the Nassau and Pukapuka atolls, shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the first and only precipitation radar in space, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM shows an asymmetrical eye with intense rain (dark red area) in the northern part of the eyewall. This rain indicates where heat is being released into the storm. Known as "latent heat," it is the heat released when water vapor condenses into liquid cloud droplets. It is most effective in driving the cyclone's circulation when it is released near the center as is the case shown here by TRMM. The right image was taken at the same time by the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), and shows a vertical cross section through the center of the storm looking east. The intense rain (darker red area) is associated with the tallest towers in the northern eyewall. The broad yellow area indicating moderate rain is associated with an outer rainband. At the time of these images, Percy was a Category 3 storm with sustained winds estimated at 105 knots (121 mph). The lower left image was taken at 08:18 UTC on March 2, 2005. At this time Percy was a strong Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 130 knots (150 mph). The center of the storm does not fall within the PR swath, which has a higher horizontal resolution than the TMI. However, the TMI is still able to show what appears to a double, eyewall. Mature, intense tropical cyclones undergo what it known as eyewall replacement cycles wherein an outer eyewall forms as a ring surrounding the inner eyewall. The outer eyewall eventually contracts and replaces the inner eyewall. The two eyewalls are evident as the two concentric rings of moderate rain intensity (green areas).TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Tropical Cyclone Percy
| Title |
Tropical Cyclone Percy |
| Description |
Percy, a powerful Category 4 cyclone, is the latest cyclone to threaten the South Pacific. In early February Cyclone Meena hit the Cook Islands, and in mid-February Cyclone Nancy also skirted the Cook Islands while Cyclone Olaf brushed the islands of Samoa and American Samoa. Percy started out as a tropical depression on February 24, 2005, near Tuvalu, just east of the international dateline. The system moved east-southeast staying north of Samoa and steadily increased in strength. It became a cyclone on February 25 and, two days later, grew into a powerful Category 4 cyclone with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Percy then slowed down, weakened slightly and battered the atolls of Nassau and Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands before turning south on February 28. Percy regained Category 4 strength on March 1, and then further intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm on the 2nd with maximum sustained winds estimated at 140 knots (161 mph). In November of 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, or TRMM satellite, was launched to measure rainfall over the global tropics. TRMM has also turned out to be an excellent observational platform for studying and monitoring tropical cyclones, as shown by this series of images of Cyclone Percy. The top left image, taken at 08:29 UTC on February 28, just as Percy was raking the Nassau and Pukapuka atolls, shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the first and only precipitation radar in space, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM shows an asymmetrical eye with intense rain (dark red area) in the northern part of the eyewall. This rain indicates where heat is being released into the storm. Known as "latent heat," it is the heat released when water vapor condenses into liquid cloud droplets. It is most effective in driving the cyclone's circulation when it is released near the center as is the case shown here by TRMM. The right image was taken at the same time by the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), and shows a vertical cross section through the center of the storm looking east. The intense rain (darker red area) is associated with the tallest towers in the northern eyewall. The broad yellow area indicating moderate rain is associated with an outer rainband. At the time of these images, Percy was a Category 3 storm with sustained winds estimated at 105 knots (121 mph). The lower left image was taken at 08:18 UTC on March 2, 2005. At this time Percy was a strong Category 4 cyclone with maximum sustained winds estimated at 130 knots (150 mph). The center of the storm does not fall within the PR swath, which has a higher horizontal resolution than the TMI. However, the TMI is still able to show what appears to a double, eyewall. Mature, intense tropical cyclones undergo what it known as eyewall replacement cycles wherein an outer eyewall forms as a ring surrounding the inner eyewall. The outer eyewall eventually contracts and replaces the inner eyewall. The two eyewalls are evident as the two concentric rings of moderate rain intensity (green areas).TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Tropical Storm Delta
| Title |
Tropical Storm Delta |
| Description |
Tropical Storm Delta, the 25th named storm of the 2005 hurricane season, started out as a non-tropical area of low pressure about 1,150 miles southwest of the Azores in the eastern Atlantic. By November 23, 2005, the system had developed into Tropical Storm Delta. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) satellite has continued to monitor the extraordinary activity in the Atlantic. Armed with an array of sensors, TRMM provides unique images and information on tropical cyclones over the global Tropics. The top image of Delta was taken by TRMM at 4:32 pm EDT on November 23, and shows the rain intensity within the storm. TRMM reveals that Delta is rather small, but the circulation is fairly well developed as evidenced by the nearly closed eye (semicircular green area) and the curvature of the rain field. At the time of the image, Delta was a tropical storm with sustained winds estimated at 93 kilometers per hour (58 mph) by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Initially the storm headed south before veering off to the northeast. As the system was approaching the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, it began to merge with another weather system and became more extratropical in nature. TRMM took the lower image at 1:38 pm EDT on the November 28, just as Delta was passing north of the Canary Islands. The storm center (shown by the red symbol) was completely exposed, and all of the rain was ahead (northeast) of the center. A large band of heavy (dark red) to moderate (green) rain shows where Delta's circulation was interacting with the front. In both images, rain rates in the central part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar that can measure rainfall from space. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Tropical Storm Delta
| Title |
Tropical Storm Delta |
| Description |
Tropical Storm Delta, the 25th named storm of the 2005 hurricane season, started out as a non-tropical area of low pressure about 1,150 miles southwest of the Azores in the eastern Atlantic. By November 23, 2005, the system had developed into Tropical Storm Delta. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) satellite has continued to monitor the extraordinary activity in the Atlantic. Armed with an array of sensors, TRMM provides unique images and information on tropical cyclones over the global Tropics. The top image of Delta was taken by TRMM at 4:32 pm EDT on November 23, and shows the rain intensity within the storm. TRMM reveals that Delta is rather small, but the circulation is fairly well developed as evidenced by the nearly closed eye (semicircular green area) and the curvature of the rain field. At the time of the image, Delta was a tropical storm with sustained winds estimated at 93 kilometers per hour (58 mph) by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Initially the storm headed south before veering off to the northeast. As the system was approaching the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, it began to merge with another weather system and became more extratropical in nature. TRMM took the lower image at 1:38 pm EDT on the November 28, just as Delta was passing north of the Canary Islands. The storm center (shown by the red symbol) was completely exposed, and all of the rain was ahead (northeast) of the center. A large band of heavy (dark red) to moderate (green) rain shows where Delta's circulation was interacting with the front. In both images, rain rates in the central part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar that can measure rainfall from space. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Tropical Storm Epsilon
| Title |
Tropical Storm Epsilon |
| Description |
Epsilon formed into a tropical storm on November 29, 2005, from a mid-latitude, low-pressure center in the central Atlantic well east of Bermuda. Around midday (local time) on December 2, Epsilon strengthened into a minimal hurricane with maximum sustained winds estimated at 65 knots (75 mph) by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), becoming the record 14th hurricane of the season. The old record of 12 hurricanes was set back in 1969. This image was obtained by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) at 16:01 UTC (11:01 a.m. EDT) on December 6. Rain rates in the central part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR). Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). The hurricane shows a fairly well-defined eye, but the eye is elongated (more oval), and the eyewall is eroded on the southwest side. These features indicate that wind shear and dry air have been taking a toll on Epsilon. Hurricane Epsilon was a minimal hurricane with sustained winds of 65 knots (75 mph) at the time of this TRMM observation. The system was moving south due to strengthening high pressure north and west of the hurricane. Epsilon was expected to continue southwestward and weaken due to increasing wind shear. In November of 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite was launched with the primary mission of measuring rainfall over the global tropics. However, TRMM's array of passive and active sensors has proven to be a valuable platform for monitoring and studying tropical storms and hurricanes, especially over remote parts of the open ocean, such as the central Atlantic where Epsilon was located. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Image produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Tropical Storm Epsilon
| Title |
Tropical Storm Epsilon |
| Description |
With every new storm, the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season continues to set new records. By November 29, the record for the number of named storms in a season hit 26 with the formation of Tropical Storm Epsilon. This record shattered the previous mark of 21 set in 1933. Although hurricane season officially ends on November 30 every year, the occasional rare storm can form in December. Considering the magnitude of the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season, it is not surprising that on the last day of the official season Epsilon lurked in the Atlantic. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) satellite has continued to monitor the extraordinary activity in the Atlantic. Armed with an array of sensors, TRMM provides unique images and information on tropical cyclones over the global Tropics, including this image of the formation of Tropical Storm Epsilon. Epsilon formed from a mid-latitude low pressure center on November 29, 2005, in the central Atlantic about 840 miles east of Bermuda. TRMM acquired this image a short time later at 7:05 p.m. EDT on November 29, 2005, when Epsilon was still a very small storm in its earliest formative stages. Areas of moderate rain (green areas) and an area of heavy rain (red dot) are present near the center. However, there is little curvature in the rain features, a trait that distinguishes tropical cyclones, and no eye is present. At the time of this image, Epsilon had sustained winds estimated at 83 kilometers per hour (52 mph) by the National Hurricane Center. Rain rates in the central part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the only radar that can measure rainfall from space. Rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Image produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Typhoon Nesat
| Title |
Typhoon Nesat |
| Description |
Despite reaching Category 4 intensity east of the Philippines, Typhoon Nesat remained over open waters and did not cause any damage. Nesat became a depression on May 27, 2005, east of the Yap Islands in the western Pacific. The system then moved west and began to intensify, passing north of the Yap Islands and south of Guam, before entering the southern Philippine Sea as a minimal typhoon. Nesat continued to intensify becoming a Category 4 typhoon on June 3, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 125 knots (232 kph, 144 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Nesat then turned north, sparing the Philippines and weakening slightly. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite captured this image on June 6, as the storm began to regain strength. The storm has a well-defined center with a continuous area of intense rainfall (dark red area) in the northern semi-circle of the eye. Tight bands of rain containing widespread areas of heavy rain (dark red areas) circle the eye. These features are commonly associated with a mature, intense cyclone. At the time this image was acquired, Nesat had sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (213 kph, 132 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Nesat is expected to turn northeast and remain east of Japan before weakening. Since its launch in 1997, the TRMM satellite has been a valuable platform for monitoring tropical cyclones, especially over remote ocean areas. In this image, rain rates in the center portion of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), while those in the outer portion are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS).TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC). |
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Typhoon Sonca
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Typhoon Sonca |
| Description |
) satellite has been providing valuable images and information on tropical cyclones throughout the tropics, especially over remote ocean areas. TRMM acquired the top image at 21:29 UTC on April 22, while Sonca was still a depression in the southern Philippine Sea. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by TRMM. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), and those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM shows that Sonca has a fairly broad area of rainfall. Though most the rain is light in intensity (blue areas), moderate (green areas) and isolated areas of heavy rain (red) are also present and some weak banding is apparent as evidenced by the tendency of the moderate rain areas to lie in a large semi-circle, which is indicative of the presence of an organized circulation. Sonca then underwent a period of rapid intensification, strengthening from a tropical storm on April 23, to a Category 4 typhoon on April 24, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. TRMM captured the center image at 05:28 UTC on April 25, after this intensification period. The PR shows a well-defined center with a continuous area of intense rainfall (dark red area) adjoining the western and northern part of the eye. Tight banding is also visible in the surrounding rain field. These are the characteristics of a mature intense cyclone. By this time, however, Sonca was already beginning to feel the effects of an approaching mid-latitude trough and an accompanying cold front, and by 20:21 UTC on April 25, when TRMM acquired the bottom image, Sonca had degraded into a Category 3 storm. At that time, the storm was moving northward and would soon move northeast and begin to weaken. In this image, the storm?s center is not within the PR swath. Peak rain intensities have diminished, and the eye now appears elongated as Sonca feels the effects of windshear induced by the mid-latitude trough. Following this image, Sonca continued to weaken and raced off to the northeast, passing close to Iwo Jima April 26, before being absorbed by the mid-latitude frontal system.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC)., Although Typhoon Sonca briefly reached Category 4 intensity east of the Philippines, the storm remained over open waters without causing any damage. Sonca formed into a depression on the night of April 20, 2005, east of the Yap Islands in the West Pacific. Over the next couple of days, this depression moved west northwest, passed through the Yap Islands, and entered the southern Philippine Sea where it began to intensify. This series of images shows the structure of the storm, as observed by NASA?s TRMM satellite, as Sonca intensified and then decayed between April 22, and April 25, 2005. Since its launch in 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] |
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Typhoon Sonca
| Title |
Typhoon Sonca |
| Description |
) satellite has been providing valuable images and information on tropical cyclones throughout the tropics, especially over remote ocean areas. TRMM acquired the top image at 21:29 UTC on April 22, while Sonca was still a depression in the southern Philippine Sea. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by TRMM. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), and those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM shows that Sonca has a fairly broad area of rainfall. Though most the rain is light in intensity (blue areas), moderate (green areas) and isolated areas of heavy rain (red) are also present and some weak banding is apparent as evidenced by the tendency of the moderate rain areas to lie in a large semi-circle, which is indicative of the presence of an organized circulation. Sonca then underwent a period of rapid intensification, strengthening from a tropical storm on April 23, to a Category 4 typhoon on April 24, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. TRMM captured the center image at 05:28 UTC on April 25, after this intensification period. The PR shows a well-defined center with a continuous area of intense rainfall (dark red area) adjoining the western and northern part of the eye. Tight banding is also visible in the surrounding rain field. These are the characteristics of a mature intense cyclone. By this time, however, Sonca was already beginning to feel the effects of an approaching mid-latitude trough and an accompanying cold front, and by 20:21 UTC on April 25, when TRMM acquired the bottom image, Sonca had degraded into a Category 3 storm. At that time, the storm was moving northward and would soon move northeast and begin to weaken. In this image, the storm?s center is not within the PR swath. Peak rain intensities have diminished, and the eye now appears elongated as Sonca feels the effects of windshear induced by the mid-latitude trough. Following this image, Sonca continued to weaken and raced off to the northeast, passing close to Iwo Jima April 26, before being absorbed by the mid-latitude frontal system.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC)., Although Typhoon Sonca briefly reached Category 4 intensity east of the Philippines, the storm remained over open waters without causing any damage. Sonca formed into a depression on the night of April 20, 2005, east of the Yap Islands in the West Pacific. Over the next couple of days, this depression moved west northwest, passed through the Yap Islands, and entered the southern Philippine Sea where it began to intensify. This series of images shows the structure of the storm, as observed by NASA?s TRMM satellite, as Sonca intensified and then decayed between April 22, and April 25, 2005. Since its launch in 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] |
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Typhoon Sonca
| Title |
Typhoon Sonca |
| Description |
) satellite has been providing valuable images and information on tropical cyclones throughout the tropics, especially over remote ocean areas. TRMM acquired the top image at 21:29 UTC on April 22, while Sonca was still a depression in the southern Philippine Sea. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity (top down view) as viewed by TRMM. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), and those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). TRMM shows that Sonca has a fairly broad area of rainfall. Though most the rain is light in intensity (blue areas), moderate (green areas) and isolated areas of heavy rain (red) are also present and some weak banding is apparent as evidenced by the tendency of the moderate rain areas to lie in a large semi-circle, which is indicative of the presence of an organized circulation. Sonca then underwent a period of rapid intensification, strengthening from a tropical storm on April 23, to a Category 4 typhoon on April 24, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. TRMM captured the center image at 05:28 UTC on April 25, after this intensification period. The PR shows a well-defined center with a continuous area of intense rainfall (dark red area) adjoining the western and northern part of the eye. Tight banding is also visible in the surrounding rain field. These are the characteristics of a mature intense cyclone. By this time, however, Sonca was already beginning to feel the effects of an approaching mid-latitude trough and an accompanying cold front, and by 20:21 UTC on April 25, when TRMM acquired the bottom image, Sonca had degraded into a Category 3 storm. At that time, the storm was moving northward and would soon move northeast and begin to weaken. In this image, the storm?s center is not within the PR swath. Peak rain intensities have diminished, and the eye now appears elongated as Sonca feels the effects of windshear induced by the mid-latitude trough. Following this image, Sonca continued to weaken and raced off to the northeast, passing close to Iwo Jima April 26, before being absorbed by the mid-latitude frontal system.TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA. Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC)., Although Typhoon Sonca briefly reached Category 4 intensity east of the Philippines, the storm remained over open waters without causing any damage. Sonca formed into a depression on the night of April 20, 2005, east of the Yap Islands in the West Pacific. Over the next couple of days, this depression moved west northwest, passed through the Yap Islands, and entered the southern Philippine Sea where it began to intensify. This series of images shows the structure of the storm, as observed by NASA?s TRMM satellite, as Sonca intensified and then decayed between April 22, and April 25, 2005. Since its launch in 1997, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] |
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