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The Carina Nebula: Star Birt …
Title The Carina Nebula: Star Birth in the Extreme
General Information What is Hubble Heritage? A monthly showcase of new and archival Hubble images. Go to the Heritage site. In celebration of the 17th anniversary of the launch and deployment of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers is releasing one of the largest panoramic images ever taken with Hubble's cameras. READ: Junior version of this article Amazing Space Learn about this story in the Star Witness, a science newspaper available on our sister site, Amazing Space. [ http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/news/archive/2007/02/ ] It is a 50-light-year-wide view of the central region of the Carina Nebula where a maelstrom of star birth &#151, and death &#151, is taking place. This image is a mosaic of the Carina Nebula assembled from 48 frames taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. The Hubble images were taken in the light of neutral hydrogen during March and July 2005. Color information was added with data taken in December 2001 and March 2003 at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. Red corresponds to sulfur, green to hydrogen, and blue to oxygen emission.
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average without Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average without Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average without Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average without Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average with Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average with Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average with Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
Global Rotation of SeaWiFS B …
Title Global Rotation of SeaWiFS Biosphere Decadal Average with Land
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation shows an average of 10 years worth of SeaWiFS data. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there tends to be a lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas which support life. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
SeaWiFS Biosphere from 1997 …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere from 1997 to 2006
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land. A recent study indicates there is a correlation between this ocean nutrients and changes in sea surface temperature (SST). The results show that when SSTs warm, marine plant life in the form of microscopic phytoplankton declines. When SSTs cool, marine plant life flourishes. Changes in phytoplankton growth influence fishery yields and the amount of carbon dioxide the oceans remove from the atmosphere. This could have major implications on the future of our ocean's food web and how it relates to climate change. Once the animation pulls out to a full global view, the remaining animation can be compared to the animation titled 'MODIS Sea Surface Temperature from 2002 to 2006'. Please click here to view the corresponding animation.
Completed 2006-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere from 1997 …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere from 1997 to 2006
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land. A recent study indicates there is a correlation between this ocean nutrients and changes in sea surface temperature (SST). The results show that when SSTs warm, marine plant life in the form of microscopic phytoplankton declines. When SSTs cool, marine plant life flourishes. Changes in phytoplankton growth influence fishery yields and the amount of carbon dioxide the oceans remove from the atmosphere. This could have major implications on the future of our ocean's food web and how it relates to climate change. Once the animation pulls out to a full global view, the remaining animation can be compared to the animation titled 'MODIS Sea Surface Temperature from 2002 to 2006'. Please click here to view the corresponding animation.
Completed 2006-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over the North Atlantic
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. A check up of the Earth's planetary health reveals that the lowest rung in the ocean food chain is shrinking. For the past 20 years (early 1980s to present), phytoplankton concentrations declined as much as 30 percent in northern oceans. Scientists from NASA , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Oregon State University say warmer ocean temperatures and low winds may be depriving the tiny ocean plants of necessary nutrients. However, they still do not know if the loss of phytoplankton is a long-term trend or a climate oscillation. Scientists can monitor ocean and planetary health through phytoplankton. Since the whole ocean food chain depends on the health and productivity of phytoplankton, a significant change could indicate a shift in our climate. Phytoplankton consists of many diverse species of microscopic free-floating ocean plants that form the base of the ocean's food chain. These plants thrive on sunlight and nutrients. Limit either one and phytoplankton will not grow. This animation shows the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) in red and the net primary production NPP anomaly in units of Tgrams carbon per month in green. The MEI is a multivariate index that incorporates sea level pressure, surface zonal and meridional wind components, sea surface temperature, surface air temperature, and cloudiness (Wolter and Timlin, 1998). The MEI index is calculated for the tropical Pacific (i.e., between 10 degrees North and 10 degrees South, from Asia to the Americas) with units of kg m-3. The Net Primary Production (NPP) data was generated from the Vertically Generalized Production Model (VGPM). The VGPM dataset is available at the following URL: http://web.science.oregonstate.eduocean.productivity/ . As the sea surface temperature warms, the production levels decrease.
Completed 2007-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over the North Atlantic
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. A check up of the Earth's planetary health reveals that the lowest rung in the ocean food chain is shrinking. For the past 20 years (early 1980s to present), phytoplankton concentrations declined as much as 30 percent in northern oceans. Scientists from NASA , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Oregon State University say warmer ocean temperatures and low winds may be depriving the tiny ocean plants of necessary nutrients. However, they still do not know if the loss of phytoplankton is a long-term trend or a climate oscillation. Scientists can monitor ocean and planetary health through phytoplankton. Since the whole ocean food chain depends on the health and productivity of phytoplankton, a significant change could indicate a shift in our climate. Phytoplankton consists of many diverse species of microscopic free-floating ocean plants that form the base of the ocean's food chain. These plants thrive on sunlight and nutrients. Limit either one and phytoplankton will not grow. This animation shows the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) in red and the net primary production NPP anomaly in units of Tgrams carbon per month in green. The MEI is a multivariate index that incorporates sea level pressure, surface zonal and meridional wind components, sea surface temperature, surface air temperature, and cloudiness (Wolter and Timlin, 1998). The MEI index is calculated for the tropical Pacific (i.e., between 10 degrees North and 10 degrees South, from Asia to the Americas) with units of kg m-3. The Net Primary Production (NPP) data was generated from the Vertically Generalized Production Model (VGPM). The VGPM dataset is available at the following URL: http://web.science.oregonstate.eduocean.productivity/ . As the sea surface temperature warms, the production levels decrease.
Completed 2007-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over the North Atlantic
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. A check up of the Earth's planetary health reveals that the lowest rung in the ocean food chain is shrinking. For the past 20 years (early 1980s to present), phytoplankton concentrations declined as much as 30 percent in northern oceans. Scientists from NASA , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Oregon State University say warmer ocean temperatures and low winds may be depriving the tiny ocean plants of necessary nutrients. However, they still do not know if the loss of phytoplankton is a long-term trend or a climate oscillation. Scientists can monitor ocean and planetary health through phytoplankton. Since the whole ocean food chain depends on the health and productivity of phytoplankton, a significant change could indicate a shift in our climate. Phytoplankton consists of many diverse species of microscopic free-floating ocean plants that form the base of the ocean's food chain. These plants thrive on sunlight and nutrients. Limit either one and phytoplankton will not grow. This animation shows the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) in red and the net primary production NPP anomaly in units of Tgrams carbon per month in green. The MEI is a multivariate index that incorporates sea level pressure, surface zonal and meridional wind components, sea surface temperature, surface air temperature, and cloudiness (Wolter and Timlin, 1998). The MEI index is calculated for the tropical Pacific (i.e., between 10 degrees North and 10 degrees South, from Asia to the Americas) with units of kg m-3. The Net Primary Production (NPP) data was generated from the Vertically Generalized Production Model (VGPM). The VGPM dataset is available at the following URL: http://web.science.oregonstate.eduocean.productivity/ . As the sea surface temperature warms, the production levels decrease.
Completed 2007-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rot …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rotation from 1997 to 2006
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rot …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rotation from 1997 to 2006
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rot …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rotation from 1997 to 2006
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rot …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rotation from 1997 to 2006
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rot …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Global Rotation from 1997 to 2006
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-04-16
SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over the North Pacific
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over the North Pacific
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2007-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over the North Atlantic
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2006-11-22
SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over …
Title SeaWiFS Biosphere Data over the North Atlantic
Abstract The SeaWiFS instrument aboard the Seastar satellite has been collecting ocean data since 1997. By monitoring the color of reflected light via satellite, scientists can determine how successfully plant life is photosynthesizing. A measurement of photosynthesis is essentially a measurement of successful growth, and growth means successful use of ambient carbon. This animation represents nearly a decade's worth of data taken by the SeaWiFS instrument, showing the abundance of life in the sea. Dark blue represents warmer areas where there is little life due to lack of nutrients, and greens and reds represent cooler nutrient-rich areas. The nutrient-rich areas include coastal regions where cold water rises from the sea floor bringing nutrients along and areas at the mouths of rivers where the rivers have brought nutrients into the ocean from the land.
Completed 2006-11-22
Floods in Indonesia
Title Floods in Indonesia
Description Days of heavy rains led to devastating landslides on the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) in mid-June 2006. As of June 22, the death toll stood at 200 with 135 still missing, reported the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. [ http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KKEE-6QZME5?OpenDocument ] The hardest hit area was Sinjai in South Sulawesi. This image reflects the rainfall totals over the island from June 14 to June 21, 2006. Highest rainfall totals, on the order of 10 to 12 inches (300 millimeters) are red. The southernmost area of heavy rain is near the southern tip of Sulawesi and covers the higher terrain adjacent to Sinjai. Deforestation in the region is believed to be a contributing factor in the disastrous mudslides. The image was created using data from the Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA), which monitors rainfall over the global Tropics. The MPA uses rainfall measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM) to calibrate rainfall estimates from other satellites. TRMM's primary mission is to measure rainfall over the global tropics. It was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Floods in Indonesia
Title Floods in Indonesia
Description Days of heavy rains led to devastating landslides on the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) in mid-June 2006. As of June 22, the death toll stood at 200 with 135 still missing, reported the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. [ http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KKEE-6QZME5?OpenDocument ] The hardest hit area was Sinjai in South Sulawesi. This image reflects the rainfall totals over the island from June 14 to June 21, 2006. Highest rainfall totals, on the order of 10 to 12 inches (300 millimeters) are red. The southernmost area of heavy rain is near the southern tip of Sulawesi and covers the higher terrain adjacent to Sinjai. Deforestation in the region is believed to be a contributing factor in the disastrous mudslides. The image was created using data from the Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA), which monitors rainfall over the global Tropics. The MPA uses rainfall measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM) to calibrate rainfall estimates from other satellites. TRMM's primary mission is to measure rainfall over the global tropics. It was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Floods in Southeast Texas
Title Floods in Southeast Texas
Description Strong southerly winds pumped moist air up from the Gulf of Mexico and across southeastern Texas over the Memorial Day weekend at the end of May 2006. The abundant moisture triggered and sustained thunderstorms over the coastal areas of Texas between May 28 and May 31, 2006. Up to 16 inches of rain were reported in just 24 hours in Chambers County, Texas, east of Galveston Bay, and nearly 12 inches of rain fell in Harris County just outside of Houston. Patches of heavy rain in Southern Texas are clear in this image of satellite-based rainfall totals for May 28-31, 2006. The highest totals (shown in red) occur just inland from the coast near Matagorda Bay along the central part of the Texas Gulf coast where rainfall totals exceed 10 inches (darkest red area). Another area of heavy rain is visible near the border with Louisiana just north of Beaumont, Texas, where amounts are on the order of 7 inches (lighter red area). The totals reported near Galveston Bay and Houston may have been too small in scale (occurred in a very localized area) or occurred over too a brief period to be captured by the satellite, as the image shows relatively low totals in those areas. The image was created from a near-real time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The MPA is based on data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (known as TRMM, [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) which was placed into service in November 1997. From its low-Earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Heavy Rain in Southeastern C …
Title Heavy Rain in Southeastern China
Description Southeastern China was hit hard in May and early June 2006, when heavy rains and flooding killed dozens of people. The problems began when Typhoon Chanchu made landfall along the central southeastern coastline on May 18, 2006. The storm, which had earlier passed through the central Philippines, dumped several inches of rain and battered southern coastal regions leaving 11 people dead. Later in the month and into June, heavy monsoon rains hit the area, leaving many more dead or missing, and forcing numerous evacuations as a result of flooding, say news reports. The provinces of Fujian, Guizhou, and Guangdong were the hardest hit. This image shows rainfall totals over southeastern China as seen by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (known as TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]), from May 16 to June 1, 2006. The highest rainfall totals for the period (shown in red) are on the order of 500 millimeters (20 inches) and occur near the coast in the area around Hong Kong in the province of Guangdong. A widespread area of 450-millimeter (8-inch) rainfall totals (green) covers most of southeastern China, with locally heavier amounts of a foot or more (yellow and orange areas). TRMM was placed into service in November 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center monitors rainfall over the global Tropics. 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).
Heavy Rain in the Mid-Atlant …
Title Heavy Rain in the Mid-Atlantic States
Drought in the Southern Unit …
Title Drought in the Southern United States
Description Rainfall across the United States in the winter of 2005-06 has shown the classic pattern of a La Niña event. La Niña is a climate anomaly (departure from average conditions) that consists of cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the central and eastern Pacific and warmer-than-average SSTs over the western Pacific. Changes in the atmospheric circulation occur during La Niña events, as well. These combined ocean-atmosphere changes are likely responsible for the drought in the Southwest, the South, the central Plains, and Florida that has led to several devastating wildfires this season. This image shows where daily rainfall was above and below average in the United States between October 2005 and January 2006 compared to the eight-year average for that time frame. Places where rainfall was above average are in blue and green, while places rainfall was below average are in orange and red. The data are from the Tropical-Rainfall-Measuring-Mission-based, near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Pacific Northwest (green and blue areas), especially along the coast and over the coastal ranges of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington (blue areas) received more precipitation than usual. Almost the entire rest of the country, barring New England, had below-normal rainfall. The most intense rainfall deficits (orange and red areas) include the area stretching from Texas up through the central Plains and Upper Midwest, as well as the Gulf Coast, most of Florida, and along the southern Atlantic coast. In the Southwest, the rainfall deficit added to the stress of several years of below-average rainfall. Most of Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, and central Oklahoma have received less than 25 percent of their normal rainfall for the period. The current La Niña is expected to persist for the next several months. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite was launched in November 1997. It measures rainfall over the global tropics using both passive and active sensors, including the first precipitation radar in space. 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).
Heavy Rains in Hawaii
Title Heavy Rains in Hawaii
Description In March 2006, Hawaii suffered heavy rains, flooding, and severe weather. A series of storms (upper-level low pressure centers) north and west of the islands drew warm moist air up from the tropics. When this flow of moist tropical air passed over Hawaii, the island chain's steep mountains acted as a wringer, releasing torrential rain from the air. As a result, the islands received record-setting rain throughout March 2006. On Kauai, Mount Waialeale (one of the wettest places on earth) set an all-time monthly record of 93.71 inches of rain. Part of the reason for all of the rainfall is the current La Niña. During La Niña conditions, Hawaii is expected to have above-average rainfall totals. The image above is based on data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center monitors rainfall over the global Tropics. The above image shows MPA rainfall anomalies between February 19 and April 1, 2006, for the northern East Pacific. Hawaii and the surrounding area had higher-than-average rainfall (green areas) in general, and the western half of the state received much more rain than normal (blue areas). The large-format image also shows a coherent pattern of above-average rainfall anomalies that extend to the West Coast (green streaks) and culminate in well-above-average rainfall (blue areas) over northern California. These trends are consistent with a La Niña pattern. The TRMM satellite was launched in November 1997 to measure rainfall over the tropics. It is equipped with both passive and active sensors, including the first precipitation radar in space. 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).
Heavy Rains in Northern Cali …
Title Heavy Rains in Northern California
Description A powerful storm system brought high winds and heavy downpours to parts of central and northern California, causing localized flooding and knocking out power in the San Francisco Bay area. The weather station on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay measured strong wind gusts, including one that peaked at 156 kilometers per hour (98 miles per hour). This storm system was brought in by a powerful subtropical jet steam, which provided moisture and strong upper-level winds. The system spawned thunderstorms that brought lightning and sizeable hail around Sacramento. Coastal regions also measured heavy rainfall, though there was no widespread flooding there. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) monitors rainfall based on a near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. This image shows MPA rainfall totals for the central and northern West Coast from February 22 to March 1, 2006. The highest rainfall totals for the period are around 120 millimeters, about 5 inches, shown in red. These rainfall amounts occur along the western slopes of the coastal range, in the Klamath Mountains near the border with Oregon, and over the northern Sierra Nevada on the downwind side of the Sacramento Valley. The mountains forced moisture from the humid air rising over the slopes. MPA rainfall totals for the San Francisco Bay area are rather light, while the areas around Sacramento received a little over 70 millimeters, about 3 inches, shown in the brighter greens. The TRMM satellite was launched into service in November of 1997. It was engineered to measure rainfall over the global Tropics using both passive and active sensors, including the first and only precipitation radar in space. 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).
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).
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).
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).
Hurricane Ernesto
Title Hurricane Ernesto
Description On Sunday August 27, 2006, Ernesto became the first storm of the Atlantic season to reach hurricane intensity. Ernesto did not maintain hurricane intensity for long, however, and was soon downgraded back to a tropical storm after grazing the southwestern tip of Hispaniola. Ernesto formed from an easterly wave—a low-pressure ripple in the atmosphere—that moved west across the Atlantic and into the Caribbean. After passing through the Windward Islands, the wave developed into the fifth tropical depression of the year on August 24. This series of images shows the development of the storm. The earliest image (bottom image in the trilogy) shows the storm in the southeastern Caribbean soon after it had formed. The image was taken 10:41 p.m. local time on August 24, 2006, (02:41 UTC on August 25) by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, while those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. Scattered areas of light (blue) to moderate (green) rain and little evidence of classic hurricane organization reveal that the system was still in its early stages of development. The storm developed into Tropical Storm Ernesto the next day, when the middle image in the series was taken. As the system tracked west-northwest, it encountered southwesterly winds at higher altitudes, a pattern that tends to shear off the tops of developing storms and to prevent them from gathering strength. These winds kept the storm from gaining much strength despite warm sea surface temperatures. Warm water is the engine that drives tropical storms. When this image was taken at 7:34 a.m. local time (11:34 UTC) on August 26, Ernesto was passing south of the Dominican Republic. At that time, intense areas of rain were present within the storm (red areas). However, Ernesto still did not have a visible eye, nor a particularly well-developed circulation, the spiraling band of clouds typically associated with tropical storms and hurricanes. At that time, the National Hurricane Center [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ ], reported that Ernesto's maximum sustained winds were 74 kilometers per hour (46 miles per hour). Throughout the day, Ernesto continued to encounter high-altitude winds from the southwest that pushed the storm's top eastward, creating the elongated oval shape seen in the top image. This image was obtained at 10:24 p.m. local time on August 26 (02:24 UTC, August 27), when Ernesto was approaching Haiti. Although the center of the storm did not fall within the center of the TRMM instruments' fields of view, the rainfall pattern confirms that high-altitude winds were still confining the heaviest rains to the eastern side of the storm. At the time of this image, Ernesto's sustained winds were up slightly to 92 km/hr (58 mph). During the night of August 26, the shear across Ernesto finally eased off, and the storm responded by intensifying into a Category 1 hurricane. However, by this time, Ernesto was close to southwestern Haiti. Ernesto crossed the southwestern tip of Haiti on August 27, which caused it to weaken back to a tropical storm. Ernesto then continued northwest before making landfall in southeastern Cuba several hours later. As of August 29, Ernesto remained a somewhat disorganized tropical storm system. The storm was expected to reorganize as it left Cuba, but it was unclear if it would have enough time to develop back to hurricane strength before making a projected landfall in south Florida. The TRMM satellite was placed into service in November 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM provides valuable images and information on storm systems 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).
Hurricane Florence
Title Hurricane Florence
Description As the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season neared the typical peak of storm activity in mid-September, Hurricane Florence was making its way northward through the western Atlantic near Bermuda. Although Florence was the sixth named storm of the season, no major hurricanes had occurred as of mid-September. Before Florence, only Ernesto had managed to briefly reach minimal hurricane intensity. Florence formed from a tropical depression (low pressure area) on September 3, and it became the second hurricane of the season as it approached Bermuda. It had not exceeded Category 1 intensity, [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml ] nor was it projected to become more powerful, as of September 12. The image above shows the hurricane not long after it had passed Bermuda. The image was taken at 7:05 p.m. local time (23:05 UTC) on September 11, 2006, by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] satellite. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, while those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. The data shows rain bands circling a rather large eye, which contains an area of intense rain (dark red arc) in the northwest eyewall. The southeastern part of the eyewall, however, appears ragged. Most of the rain was ahead of the storm (the broad blue and green area indicating light to moderate rain, respectively). The TRMM satellite was placed into service in November 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM provides valuable images and information on storm systems 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).
Hurricane Gordon
Title Hurricane Gordon
Description After a relatively mild start, the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season became more active with the arrival of the first major hurricane—Hurricane Gordon—in the Central Atlantic. The seventh named storm of the season formed on September 10, becoming a tropical storm the next day. With warm waters beneath the storm and calm upper-level wind patterns, Gordon was able to gather strength and become a Category 1 [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml ] hurricane on September 11. By early September 15, it had become a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center, [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ ] making it the first major hurricane of the 2006 season. The previous two hurricanes, Ernesto [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13827 ] and Florence, [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13865 ] never intensified beyond Category 1 strength. These images show Gordon at 2:00 p.m. local time (18:00 UTC) on September 13, 2006, as observed by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ], satellite. The top image shows rain rates (how fast the rain was coming down), with the heaviest rain in red and lighter rain in blue. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, while those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. The rain rates show that Gordon had a well-defined, clear eye (dark spot in the center of the white, cloudy region) surrounded by a complete eyewall (innermost green ring) embedded within areas of intense rain (dark red areas). The banding patterns (the distinctive hurricane-shaped spirals) were pronounced, with tight curvature. These signs pointed to a strong, mature circulation pattern within the storm. The lower image provides a three-dimensional view of the storm as seen from TRMM's Precipitation Radar. From this perspective, too, Gordon shows signs of becoming an intense hurricane. A tall red tower in the northeastern eyewall points to rapidly rising air (deep convection). In the tower, water vapor is condensing into cloud droplets and releasing heat into the storm. The heating, known as latent heating, and subsequent rising of air lower a storm's central air pressure, which drives the storm's circulation. By causing the pressure to drop, latent heating and convection cause the storm to intensify. As a result, tall towers are a good indicator that a storm is about to intensify. At the time of this image, Gordon's maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 147 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour) by the National Hurricane Center, making it a strong Category 1 storm. Shortly after this TRMM overpass, Gordon was upgraded to a strong Category 2 storm. Gordon reached Category 3 intensity later that same evening. The hurricane, however, was nowhere near land, and as of September 15, it was projected to weaken over cooler waters as it veered northeast in the general direction of the Azores Islands. The TRMM satellite was placed into service in November 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM provides valuable images and information on storm systems 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).
Hurricane Gordon
Title Hurricane Gordon
Description After a relatively mild start, the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season became more active with the arrival of the first major hurricane—Hurricane Gordon—in the Central Atlantic. The seventh named storm of the season formed on September 10, becoming a tropical storm the next day. With warm waters beneath the storm and calm upper-level wind patterns, Gordon was able to gather strength and become a Category 1 [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml ] hurricane on September 11. By early September 15, it had become a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center, [ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ ] making it the first major hurricane of the 2006 season. The previous two hurricanes, Ernesto [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13827 ] and Florence, [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13865 ] never intensified beyond Category 1 strength. These images show Gordon at 2:00 p.m. local time (18:00 UTC) on September 13, 2006, as observed by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ], satellite. The top image shows rain rates (how fast the rain was coming down), with the heaviest rain in red and lighter rain in blue. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, while those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. The rain rates show that Gordon had a well-defined, clear eye (dark spot in the center of the white, cloudy region) surrounded by a complete eyewall (innermost green ring) embedded within areas of intense rain (dark red areas). The banding patterns (the distinctive hurricane-shaped spirals) were pronounced, with tight curvature. These signs pointed to a strong, mature circulation pattern within the storm. The lower image provides a three-dimensional view of the storm as seen from TRMM's Precipitation Radar. From this perspective, too, Gordon shows signs of becoming an intense hurricane. A tall red tower in the northeastern eyewall points to rapidly rising air (deep convection). In the tower, water vapor is condensing into cloud droplets and releasing heat into the storm. The heating, known as latent heating, and subsequent rising of air lower a storm's central air pressure, which drives the storm's circulation. By causing the pressure to drop, latent heating and convection cause the storm to intensify. As a result, tall towers are a good indicator that a storm is about to intensify. At the time of this image, Gordon's maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 147 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour) by the National Hurricane Center, making it a strong Category 1 storm. Shortly after this TRMM overpass, Gordon was upgraded to a strong Category 2 storm. Gordon reached Category 3 intensity later that same evening. The hurricane, however, was nowhere near land, and as of September 15, it was projected to weaken over cooler waters as it veered northeast in the general direction of the Azores Islands. The TRMM satellite was placed into service in November 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM provides valuable images and information on storm systems 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).
El Nino Rainfall Patterns ov …
Title El Nino Rainfall Patterns over the United States
Description An anomalous warming of the central and eastern Pacific along the equator is part of a well-known climate event called El Niño. An El Niño began in the spring of 2006 and reached its peak in November and December. El Niño has far reaching effects. The anomalous warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific affects general atmospheric circulation patterns, which impacts both temperature and precipitation patterns well into middle latitudes. Deviations in the rainfall patterns across the United States due to El Niño are well-established based on past events. The northern Gulf Coast experiences above-average rainfall, as do California and the Southwest due to a stronger-than-average subtropical jet stream. The Ohio Valley and the Northwest tend to see below-normal rainfall. These deviations from the normal rainfall pattern are illustrated in this image, made from the near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA), which is produced at NASA&#8217s Goddard Space Flight Center, based in part on data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) satellite. MPA rainfall anomalies across the United States are shown here for December 25, 2006, through January 25, 2007. The anomalies are obtained by subtracting the average rainfall from the recent values. The average rainfall measurements are based on data collected since TRMM's launch in November 1997. Several of the notable features associated with El Niño are evident. The northern Gulf Coast west of Florida is wetter than average as is southern California. The Four Corners region in the Southwest is also very moist, which is typical for El Niño. Drier-than-normal conditions are evident over the Ohio Valley. There are some exceptions to the expected El Niño rainfall patterns, however. Montana, for example, is usually drier than average during El Niño but appears relatively moist, and Florida is usually wetter than average but shows below-normal rainfall for the period. Also, the dry anomaly in the Northwest is concentrated over northern California instead of spreading over Washington and Oregon as might be expected. 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).
Severe Storm over the Red Se …
Title Severe Storm over the Red Sea
Description An Egyptian ferry carrying more than 1,300 people sank on February 2, 2006, in the northern Red Sea as strong storms swept across the region. While the exact cause of the disaster was not certain, the most likely reason was bad weather and high seas. At the time of the incident, a potent storm was advancing eastward over Egpyt and the western Mediterranean Sea. Out ahead of this advancing storm, strong southerly winds drew warm moist air up from the south. These conditions favour the development of severe storms. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed the storm at 04:20 UTC on February 3, 2006 (6:20 a.m. in Egypt), just a few hours after radar contact with the ferry was lost. The image shows the horizontal distribution of rain rates (top-down view) observed by the TRMM satellite. The image reveals that an intense thunderstorm complex had just come ashore on the Saudi Arabia coastline, after having crossed the northern Red Sea. The storm complex contained a sizeable area of heavy rain, with rates of 50 millimeters per hour (dark red areas). While not a direct measure of storm intensity, the heavy rain and the shape and orientation of the storm complex indicate that the storm was severe. In this image, rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. The TRMM satellite was launched into service in November of 1997. Designed to measure rainfall over the global tropics, TRMM is armed with both passive and active sensors, including the first and only precipitation radar in space. TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA. NASA images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC).
Severe Thunderstorms over th …
Title Severe Thunderstorms over the Southeastern United States
Description Up to ten inches of rain fell over parts of Houston, Texas, between October 10 and October 17, 2006. The rain fell as a line of strong storms, fueled by moisture being pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico, swept across the southeastern United States. Several tornados and deadly flooding were reported across the region. Four people died as a result of the flooding around Houston, said news reports. The top image shows rainfall totals over the southeastern United States for October 10 through October 17, 2006. The rainfall totals come from the near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis, which is partially based on rainfall measurements made by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]). The highest totals, shown in red, are around 12 inches (300 millimeters) and occur over north-central Louisiana. Ten-inch (250-millimeter) amounts (lighter red) are visible north of Galveston Bay, and most of eastern Texas and western Louisiana received at least 5 inches (130 millimeters) of rain (green areas). The lower image provides a snapshot of the line of storms at 11:17 p.m. Central Daylight Time on October 16 (4:17 UTC on October 17), as the storm system was passing through central Louisiana. Taken by the instruments on the TRMM satellite, the image shows rain intensity associated with the advancing line of storms. The rains are stretched out in a long, broken line of storms extending from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico through central Louisiana and into southwestern Mississippi. The line of intense rain (dark reds) is relatively thin across Louisiana. A broader area of weaker rain (wide blue and green area) extends farther north. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, a unique space-borne precipitation radar, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Severe Thunderstorms over th …
Title Severe Thunderstorms over the Southeastern United States
Description Up to ten inches of rain fell over parts of Houston, Texas, between October 10 and October 17, 2006. The rain fell as a line of strong storms, fueled by moisture being pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico, swept across the southeastern United States. Several tornados and deadly flooding were reported across the region. Four people died as a result of the flooding around Houston, said news reports. The top image shows rainfall totals over the southeastern United States for October 10 through October 17, 2006. The rainfall totals come from the near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis, which is partially based on rainfall measurements made by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]). The highest totals, shown in red, are around 12 inches (300 millimeters) and occur over north-central Louisiana. Ten-inch (250-millimeter) amounts (lighter red) are visible north of Galveston Bay, and most of eastern Texas and western Louisiana received at least 5 inches (130 millimeters) of rain (green areas). The lower image provides a snapshot of the line of storms at 11:17 p.m. Central Daylight Time on October 16 (4:17 UTC on October 17), as the storm system was passing through central Louisiana. Taken by the instruments on the TRMM satellite, the image shows rain intensity associated with the advancing line of storms. The rains are stretched out in a long, broken line of storms extending from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico through central Louisiana and into southwestern Mississippi. The line of intense rain (dark reds) is relatively thin across Louisiana. A broader area of weaker rain (wide blue and green area) extends farther north. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, a unique space-borne precipitation radar, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Severe Thunderstorms over th …
Title Severe Thunderstorms over the Southeastern United States
Description Up to ten inches of rain fell over parts of Houston, Texas, between October 10 and October 17, 2006. The rain fell as a line of strong storms, fueled by moisture being pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico, swept across the southeastern United States. Several tornados and deadly flooding were reported across the region. Four people died as a result of the flooding around Houston, said news reports. The top image shows rainfall totals over the southeastern United States for October 10 through October 17, 2006. The rainfall totals come from the near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis, which is partially based on rainfall measurements made by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]). The highest totals, shown in red, are around 12 inches (300 millimeters) and occur over north-central Louisiana. Ten-inch (250-millimeter) amounts (lighter red) are visible north of Galveston Bay, and most of eastern Texas and western Louisiana received at least 5 inches (130 millimeters) of rain (green areas). The lower image provides a snapshot of the line of storms at 11:17 p.m. Central Daylight Time on October 16 (4:17 UTC on October 17), as the storm system was passing through central Louisiana. Taken by the instruments on the TRMM satellite, the image shows rain intensity associated with the advancing line of storms. The rains are stretched out in a long, broken line of storms extending from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico through central Louisiana and into southwestern Mississippi. The line of intense rain (dark reds) is relatively thin across Louisiana. A broader area of weaker rain (wide blue and green area) extends farther north. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, a unique space-borne precipitation radar, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Severe Thunderstorms over th …
Title Severe Thunderstorms over the Southeastern United States
Description Up to ten inches of rain fell over parts of Houston, Texas, between October 10 and October 17, 2006. The rain fell as a line of strong storms, fueled by moisture being pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico, swept across the southeastern United States. Several tornados and deadly flooding were reported across the region. Four people died as a result of the flooding around Houston, said news reports. The top image shows rainfall totals over the southeastern United States for October 10 through October 17, 2006. The rainfall totals come from the near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis, which is partially based on rainfall measurements made by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]). The highest totals, shown in red, are around 12 inches (300 millimeters) and occur over north-central Louisiana. Ten-inch (250-millimeter) amounts (lighter red) are visible north of Galveston Bay, and most of eastern Texas and western Louisiana received at least 5 inches (130 millimeters) of rain (green areas). The lower image provides a snapshot of the line of storms at 11:17 p.m. Central Daylight Time on October 16 (4:17 UTC on October 17), as the storm system was passing through central Louisiana. Taken by the instruments on the TRMM satellite, the image shows rain intensity associated with the advancing line of storms. The rains are stretched out in a long, broken line of storms extending from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico through central Louisiana and into southwestern Mississippi. The line of intense rain (dark reds) is relatively thin across Louisiana. A broader area of weaker rain (wide blue and green area) extends farther north. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, a unique space-borne precipitation radar, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Severe Thunderstorms over th …
Title Severe Thunderstorms over the Southeastern United States
Description Up to ten inches of rain fell over parts of Houston, Texas, between October 10 and October 17, 2006. The rain fell as a line of strong storms, fueled by moisture being pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico, swept across the southeastern United States. Several tornados and deadly flooding were reported across the region. Four people died as a result of the flooding around Houston, said news reports. The top image shows rainfall totals over the southeastern United States for October 10 through October 17, 2006. The rainfall totals come from the near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis, which is partially based on rainfall measurements made by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]). The highest totals, shown in red, are around 12 inches (300 millimeters) and occur over north-central Louisiana. Ten-inch (250-millimeter) amounts (lighter red) are visible north of Galveston Bay, and most of eastern Texas and western Louisiana received at least 5 inches (130 millimeters) of rain (green areas). The lower image provides a snapshot of the line of storms at 11:17 p.m. Central Daylight Time on October 16 (4:17 UTC on October 17), as the storm system was passing through central Louisiana. Taken by the instruments on the TRMM satellite, the image shows rain intensity associated with the advancing line of storms. The rains are stretched out in a long, broken line of storms extending from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico through central Louisiana and into southwestern Mississippi. The line of intense rain (dark reds) is relatively thin across Louisiana. A broader area of weaker rain (wide blue and green area) extends farther north. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, a unique space-borne precipitation radar, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Severe Thunderstorms over th …
Title Severe Thunderstorms over the Southeastern United States
Description Up to ten inches of rain fell over parts of Houston, Texas, between October 10 and October 17, 2006. The rain fell as a line of strong storms, fueled by moisture being pulled up from the Gulf of Mexico, swept across the southeastern United States. Several tornados and deadly flooding were reported across the region. Four people died as a result of the flooding around Houston, said news reports. The top image shows rainfall totals over the southeastern United States for October 10 through October 17, 2006. The rainfall totals come from the near-real-time, Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis, which is partially based on rainfall measurements made by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]). The highest totals, shown in red, are around 12 inches (300 millimeters) and occur over north-central Louisiana. Ten-inch (250-millimeter) amounts (lighter red) are visible north of Galveston Bay, and most of eastern Texas and western Louisiana received at least 5 inches (130 millimeters) of rain (green areas). The lower image provides a snapshot of the line of storms at 11:17 p.m. Central Daylight Time on October 16 (4:17 UTC on October 17), as the storm system was passing through central Louisiana. Taken by the instruments on the TRMM satellite, the image shows rain intensity associated with the advancing line of storms. The rains are stretched out in a long, broken line of storms extending from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico through central Louisiana and into southwestern Mississippi. The line of intense rain (dark reds) is relatively thin across Louisiana. A broader area of weaker rain (wide blue and green area) extends farther north. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, a unique space-borne precipitation radar, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. TRMM was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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).
Soufriere Hills Activity
Title Soufriere Hills Activity
Description On January 8, 2007, the Soufriere Hills Volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat erupted, shooting a cloud of volcanic ash and gas 8 kilometers (5 miles) into the sky. According to the Associated Press, the director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory described this eruption as a warning of possible future activity. The volcano's lava dome continued growing as it had since December 24, 2006, and authorities worried that, because the January 8 eruption did not collapse the lava dome, pressure building inside the dome could cause an explosive eruption. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured this image on January 8, 2007. Shifting winds apparently pushed the plume in different directions the day of the eruption. This image shows the gray-beige volcanic ash cloud tracing a zigzag pattern over the Caribbean. Initially, the plume blows to the west, then doubles back to the east, then toward the southwest, and finally toward the northwest, where it dissipates. In the first part of the plume's path, a bright white cloud accompanies the ash. This cloud might be steam released by the volcano, but it could also be a cloud that happened to be in the plume's path.Soufriere Hills [ http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1600-05= ] is a stratovolcano made from alternating layers of hardened ash, lava, and rock. Except for a 17th-century eruption, the volcano remained quiet in historical times before resuming activity in 1995. In 1997, the volcano destroyed Montserrat's capital city of Plymouth. The January 8, 2007, eruption prompted local officials to order a partial evacuation of the island. A 250-meter-resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Jan2007/soufriere_tmo_2007008.kmz ] of the Soufriere Hills eruption is available for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] team.
Soufriere Hills on Montserra …
Title Soufriere Hills on Montserrat
Description Soufriere Hills Volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat continued emitting a plume of ash and steam on February 19, 2007, continuing its intermittent pattern of activity. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite took this picture as the volcano sent its plume southward over the ocean. In this image, the plume appears pale beige in color, suggesting some volcanic ash content. Besides a darker color, the volcanic plume possesses a less distinct outline than the nearby bright white clouds.Soufriere Hills [ http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=1600-05= ] is a stratovolcano made from alternating layers of hardened ash, lava, and rock. Except for a 17th-century eruption, the volcano remained quiet in historical times before resuming activity in 1995. In 1997, the volcano destroyed Montserrat's capital city of Plymouth. More recently, the volcano experienced a severe eruption [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13588 ] in May 2006. NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center.
Super Typhoon Durian
Title Super Typhoon Durian
Description In what turned out to be a deadly combination, torrential rains brought on by the passage of Super Typhoon Durian and volcanic ash leftover from recent eruptions on the Mayon Volcano resulted in massive mudslides in the Central Philippines. As of December 4, 2006, at least 425 people had been confirmed dead, and nearly 600 more were still missing. Super Typhoon Durian (known as "Reming" in the Philippines) made landfall in the Central Philippines on November 30, 2006, with reported wind gusts of up to 140 mph. The center crossed over Albay province in the southern part of the main northern Philippines island, Luzon. Though winds were strong, it was the accompanying heavy rainfall that turned out to be a disaster for the region. Rainfall totals for November 24 through December 1, 2006, are shown in this image. Rainfall totals exceeding 200 millimeters (about 8 inches) are shown in red and extend from the western Philippine Sea across southern sections of Luzon, Catanduanes Island (northwesternmost island shown), and northern Samar. Locally up to 460 mm (about 18 inches) of rain were reported in Albay province. Some of the heaviest rain fell on the 2,462-meter-high Mayon volcano, the Philippines' most active volcano. An eruption earlier in the year left the steep slopes covered with a large amount of volcanic ash. It was this combination of ash and the torrential rains from Durian that led to the massive mudslides that buried entire villages in the region. The rainfall totals shown here are from the near-real-time, Multi- satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA), which is based in part on measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]). TRMM was placed into low-Earth orbit in November 1997 to measure rainfall over the global Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. 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)
Super Typhoon Durian
Title Super Typhoon Durian
Description The northern Philippines island Luzon suffered yet another direct hit from a super typhoon this season when Super Typhoon Durian (known as "Reming" in the Philippines) made landfall on the southeastern part of the island on November 30, 2006. The Philippine weather service recorded sustained winds of 190 kilometers per hour (118 mph) with gusts to 225 kph (140 mph) when the storm came ashore. Luzon was hit hard in 2006. Super Typhoon Xangsane also hit the southern part of the island on September 27. Super Typhoon Cimaron struck northern Luzon on the evening of October 29, and Typhoon Chebi hit northern Luzon on November 11. The 24th tropical depression of the Western Pacific season formed early on the morning of November 26 (local time) south of Guam and became a minimal tropical storm, named Durian, later that same day. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]) satellite captured this image of Durian on November 29, by which time the storm had reached super typhoon status, with winds of 240 kilometers per hour (150 miles per hour). The image was taken at 6:50 a.m. local time (22:50 UTC) as Durian was bearing down on Catanduanes Island in the central Philippines. The image shows rain intensity in different parts of the storm system. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar, while those in the outer portion are from the TRMM Microwave Imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner. Although the center of the storm does not fall within the swath observed by the Precipitation Radar in this image, it is clear from the Microwave Imager portion of the image that Durian had a well-defined eye surrounded by a symmetric eyewall (green ring). The extreme cyclonic winds in intense storms tend to smear out eyewall features. Soon after this image was taken Durians northern eyewall passed over Virac on the southern tip of Catanduanes Island. The center then made landfall along the southeastern portion of Luzon in the province of Albay before continuing westward through the central Philippines. The TRMM satellite was placed into its low-earth orbit in November 1997. Its primary mission is to measure rainfall from space, however, it has also served as a valuable platform for monitoring tropical cyclones, especially over remote parts of the open ocean. 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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