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Floods in Southern Taiwan
| Title |
Floods in Southern Taiwan |
| Description |
Once a powerful super typhoon packing winds of 125 knots (144 mph) as it approached the northern Philippines on June 29, 2004, Mindulle weakened as it moved across the West Pacific, leaving a path of destruction. The bulk of the damage, in the northern Philippines and Taiwan, was not due to Mindulle's strong winds, however, but to the heavy rains the storm generated that resulted in widespread flooding and mudslides. The storm was responsible for at least 31 fatalities in the Philippines, and 11 more are still missing. At least 22 fatalities occurred in Taiwan and 14 others are still missing. Almost all of the deaths were a direct result of flooding and mudslides. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] (TRMM) satellite has been monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch in November of 1997 using both a microwave imager and the first precipitation radar in space. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center provides quantitative rainfall estimates over the global tropics. MPA rainfall totals between June 23 and July 4, 2004 are shown for the West Pacific and surrounding areas. Mindulle's track is denoted by the cyclone symbols shown at the 00:00 UTC positions beginning at 00:00 UTC on June 23, 2004. Mindulle's path is also clearly identified by the trail of heavy rain (dark red areas) across the Philippine Sea. The storm's slow forward speed as evidenced by the closely positioned cyclone symbols was responsible for the near 20-inch rainfall totals (dark reds) that stretch across the far the western part of the Philippine Sea and over the northern part of the island of Luzon. Twenty-inch rainfall accumulations are also visible over central and southern parts of Taiwan. Significantly smaller amounts of rainfall occur along the northern part of Mindulle's path as the storm accelerated as it moved north of Taiwan and began moving much faster. 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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Floods in Southern Taiwan
| Title |
Floods in Southern Taiwan |
| Description |
Once a powerful super typhoon packing winds of 125 knots (144 mph) as it approached the northern Philippines on June 29, 2004, Mindulle weakened as it moved across the West Pacific, leaving a path of destruction. The bulk of the damage, in the northern Philippines and Taiwan, was not due to Mindulle's strong winds, however, but to the heavy rains the storm generated that resulted in widespread flooding and mudslides. The storm was responsible for at least 31 fatalities in the Philippines, and 11 more are still missing. At least 22 fatalities occurred in Taiwan and 14 others are still missing. Almost all of the deaths were a direct result of flooding and mudslides. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] (TRMM) satellite has been monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch in November of 1997 using both a microwave imager and the first precipitation radar in space. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center provides quantitative rainfall estimates over the global tropics. MPA rainfall totals between June 23 and July 4, 2004 are shown for the West Pacific and surrounding areas. Mindulle's track is denoted by the cyclone symbols shown at the 00:00 UTC positions beginning at 00:00 UTC on June 23, 2004. Mindulle's path is also clearly identified by the trail of heavy rain (dark red areas) across the Philippine Sea. The storm's slow forward speed as evidenced by the closely positioned cyclone symbols was responsible for the near 20-inch rainfall totals (dark reds) that stretch across the far the western part of the Philippine Sea and over the northern part of the island of Luzon. Twenty-inch rainfall accumulations are also visible over central and southern parts of Taiwan. Significantly smaller amounts of rainfall occur along the northern part of Mindulle's path as the storm accelerated as it moved north of Taiwan and began moving much faster. 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 Kompasu
| Title |
Tropical Storm Kompasu |
| Description |
Tropical Storm Kompasu hit the southern coastline of China near Hong Kong on Friday July 16, 2004 with winds of up to 45 mph. No significant damage was reported, but 12 people were injured by the storm. Kompasu formed into a tropical depression in the central Philippine Sea on the 10th of July. The system moved due west through the Luzon Strait south of Taiwan and emerged into the northern South China Sea. Kompasu strengthened only minimally becoming a weak tropical storm on the 14th as it passed through the strait. The storm then turned northwest before striking the south coast of China. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] or TRMM satellite has so far continued to fulfill its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch in November of 1997. With its array of passive and active sensors, TRMM has also been providing a unique perspective on tropical cyclones. Such was the case with Kompasu. The first image, top, was taken at 22:21 UTC on July 14, 2004, after Kompasu had entered the northern South China Sea. Kompasu was then a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 45 knots (52 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This particular image reveals only a partially organized storm. Some banding is evident in the rain field (blue and green arcs), but the storm does not have an eye and nor is there any significant rainfall nears its center. This indicates that Kompasu is not likely to intensify very rapidly. The second image was taken at 05:35 UTC on the 16th just as Kompasu was about to hit the coast of China. The storm is still lacking an eye, and rain field is very asymmetrical with most of the rain located south or southeast of the center (blue, green and red areas). The heaviest rain (red) appears just south of the center. Maximum sustained winds at this time were only estimated to be about 40 knots (46 mph). Another image taken at the same time on July 16 shows a vertical cross section through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the deeper, more intense rain (dark red area) southeast of the center on the right and only weak, shallow rain (small mainly green area) northwest of the center on the left. TRMM data and images are routinely used by operational centers such as the NOAA Hurricane Prediction Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 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 Kompasu
| Title |
Tropical Storm Kompasu |
| Description |
Tropical Storm Kompasu hit the southern coastline of China near Hong Kong on Friday July 16, 2004 with winds of up to 45 mph. No significant damage was reported, but 12 people were injured by the storm. Kompasu formed into a tropical depression in the central Philippine Sea on the 10th of July. The system moved due west through the Luzon Strait south of Taiwan and emerged into the northern South China Sea. Kompasu strengthened only minimally becoming a weak tropical storm on the 14th as it passed through the strait. The storm then turned northwest before striking the south coast of China. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] or TRMM satellite has so far continued to fulfill its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch in November of 1997. With its array of passive and active sensors, TRMM has also been providing a unique perspective on tropical cyclones. Such was the case with Kompasu. The first image, top, was taken at 22:21 UTC on July 14, 2004, after Kompasu had entered the northern South China Sea. Kompasu was then a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 45 knots (52 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This particular image reveals only a partially organized storm. Some banding is evident in the rain field (blue and green arcs), but the storm does not have an eye and nor is there any significant rainfall nears its center. This indicates that Kompasu is not likely to intensify very rapidly. The second image was taken at 05:35 UTC on the 16th just as Kompasu was about to hit the coast of China. The storm is still lacking an eye, and rain field is very asymmetrical with most of the rain located south or southeast of the center (blue, green and red areas). The heaviest rain (red) appears just south of the center. Maximum sustained winds at this time were only estimated to be about 40 knots (46 mph). Another image taken at the same time on July 16 shows a vertical cross section through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the deeper, more intense rain (dark red area) southeast of the center on the right and only weak, shallow rain (small mainly green area) northwest of the center on the left. TRMM data and images are routinely used by operational centers such as the NOAA Hurricane Prediction Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 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 Kompasu
| Title |
Tropical Storm Kompasu |
| Description |
Tropical Storm Kompasu hit the southern coastline of China near Hong Kong on Friday July 16, 2004 with winds of up to 45 mph. No significant damage was reported, but 12 people were injured by the storm. Kompasu formed into a tropical depression in the central Philippine Sea on the 10th of July. The system moved due west through the Luzon Strait south of Taiwan and emerged into the northern South China Sea. Kompasu strengthened only minimally becoming a weak tropical storm on the 14th as it passed through the strait. The storm then turned northwest before striking the south coast of China. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] or TRMM satellite has so far continued to fulfill its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch in November of 1997. With its array of passive and active sensors, TRMM has also been providing a unique perspective on tropical cyclones. Such was the case with Kompasu. The first image, top, was taken at 22:21 UTC on July 14, 2004, after Kompasu had entered the northern South China Sea. Kompasu was then a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 45 knots (52 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This particular image reveals only a partially organized storm. Some banding is evident in the rain field (blue and green arcs), but the storm does not have an eye and nor is there any significant rainfall nears its center. This indicates that Kompasu is not likely to intensify very rapidly. The second image was taken at 05:35 UTC on the 16th just as Kompasu was about to hit the coast of China. The storm is still lacking an eye, and rain field is very asymmetrical with most of the rain located south or southeast of the center (blue, green and red areas). The heaviest rain (red) appears just south of the center. Maximum sustained winds at this time were only estimated to be about 40 knots (46 mph). Another image taken at the same time on July 16 shows a vertical cross section through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the deeper, more intense rain (dark red area) southeast of the center on the right and only weak, shallow rain (small mainly green area) northwest of the center on the left. TRMM data and images are routinely used by operational centers such as the NOAA Hurricane Prediction Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 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 Kompasu
| Title |
Tropical Storm Kompasu |
| Description |
Tropical Storm Kompasu hit the southern coastline of China near Hong Kong on Friday July 16, 2004 with winds of up to 45 mph. No significant damage was reported, but 12 people were injured by the storm. Kompasu formed into a tropical depression in the central Philippine Sea on the 10th of July. The system moved due west through the Luzon Strait south of Taiwan and emerged into the northern South China Sea. Kompasu strengthened only minimally becoming a weak tropical storm on the 14th as it passed through the strait. The storm then turned northwest before striking the south coast of China. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission [ http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] or TRMM satellite has so far continued to fulfill its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch in November of 1997. With its array of passive and active sensors, TRMM has also been providing a unique perspective on tropical cyclones. Such was the case with Kompasu. The first image, top, was taken at 22:21 UTC on July 14, 2004, after Kompasu had entered the northern South China Sea. Kompasu was then a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 45 knots (52 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This particular image reveals only a partially organized storm. Some banding is evident in the rain field (blue and green arcs), but the storm does not have an eye and nor is there any significant rainfall nears its center. This indicates that Kompasu is not likely to intensify very rapidly. The second image was taken at 05:35 UTC on the 16th just as Kompasu was about to hit the coast of China. The storm is still lacking an eye, and rain field is very asymmetrical with most of the rain located south or southeast of the center (blue, green and red areas). The heaviest rain (red) appears just south of the center. Maximum sustained winds at this time were only estimated to be about 40 knots (46 mph). Another image taken at the same time on July 16 shows a vertical cross section through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the deeper, more intense rain (dark red area) southeast of the center on the right and only weak, shallow rain (small mainly green area) northwest of the center on the left. TRMM data and images are routinely used by operational centers such as the NOAA Hurricane Prediction Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 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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Typhoon Mindulle
| Title |
Typhoon Mindulle |
| Description |
As the northern Philippines island of Luzon recovers from its brush with Typhoon Mindulle, the island nation of Taiwan now bears the brunt of the storm. Mindulle was responsible for 16 fatalities and 17 missing persons in the Philippines mainly from flash floods and is now hitting the east coast of Taiwan with 75 mph winds. Mindulle formed into a tropical depression from a monsoon gyre back on the 23rd of June 2004 just west of the Northern Mariana Islands. Mindulle quickly reached tropical storm strength but only slowly intensified over the next few days before finally becoming a minimal typhoon on the 27th in the Philippine Sea. Next came a period of rapid development as Mindulle's maximum sustained winds increased from 65 knots (75 mph) to 125 knots (144 mph) within a span of just 30 hours, and it's forward speed decreased dramatically as it approached the northern Philippines. Up until this point, Mindulle had been moving mainly due west but now turned north taking it through the Babuyan and Batan islands north of the main island of Luzon. The storm increased its forward speed slowly and began to weaken as it passed through the Bashi Channel headed for Taiwan. Mindulle passed by the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan on the evening (local time) of the 30th of June before continuing up along the east coast of Taiwan. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been fulfilling its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch back in November of 1997. With its passive and active sensors, TRMM is able to capture unique images of tropical cyclones providing a one of a kind perspective on their structures as seen by this series of images of Mindulle. The first image was taken at 15:39 UTC on 23 June 2004 when Mindulle was still just a tropical storm west of the Northern Mariana Islands with maximum sustained winds estimated at 35 knots (40 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This image shows that Mindulle is not very organized yet with no evidence of an eye in the rain field. However, some banding is visible in the moderate rain rates (green areas) and a sizeable area of intense rain is present (dark red areas). The second image was taken at 06:01 UTC on the 28th and shows a mature typhoon with a large, well- defined eye surrounded by a definitive eyewall that contains areas of heavy rain (semicircle with dark red areas). At this time Mindulle was a Category 4 storm with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) as it was approaching the the the northern Philippines. The next image at this same time shows a vertical cross section, through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the intense rain (black area) in the western eyewall and a broad rain shield of moderate intensity rain (yellow areas) west of the center. Also evident is a bright band (horizontal yellow areas) wherein ice particle begin to melt as they fall through the freezing level. The final image was taken at 4:51 UTC on 1 July 2004. It shows a greatly weakened Mindulle hugging the east coast of Taiwan. The eyewall is gone and the center is surrounded by a large swirl of mostly light rain (blue areas). The heaviest rain rates are part of a large rain band that extends southwest of the center into the northern South China Sea. At this time, the maximum estimated winds were down to 75 knots (86 mph). 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
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Typhoon Mindulle
| Title |
Typhoon Mindulle |
| Description |
As the northern Philippines island of Luzon recovers from its brush with Typhoon Mindulle, the island nation of Taiwan now bears the brunt of the storm. Mindulle was responsible for 16 fatalities and 17 missing persons in the Philippines mainly from flash floods and is now hitting the east coast of Taiwan with 75 mph winds. Mindulle formed into a tropical depression from a monsoon gyre back on the 23rd of June 2004 just west of the Northern Mariana Islands. Mindulle quickly reached tropical storm strength but only slowly intensified over the next few days before finally becoming a minimal typhoon on the 27th in the Philippine Sea. Next came a period of rapid development as Mindulle's maximum sustained winds increased from 65 knots (75 mph) to 125 knots (144 mph) within a span of just 30 hours, and it's forward speed decreased dramatically as it approached the northern Philippines. Up until this point, Mindulle had been moving mainly due west but now turned north taking it through the Babuyan and Batan islands north of the main island of Luzon. The storm increased its forward speed slowly and began to weaken as it passed through the Bashi Channel headed for Taiwan. Mindulle passed by the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan on the evening (local time) of the 30th of June before continuing up along the east coast of Taiwan. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been fulfilling its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch back in November of 1997. With its passive and active sensors, TRMM is able to capture unique images of tropical cyclones providing a one of a kind perspective on their structures as seen by this series of images of Mindulle. The first image was taken at 15:39 UTC on 23 June 2004 when Mindulle was still just a tropical storm west of the Northern Mariana Islands with maximum sustained winds estimated at 35 knots (40 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This image shows that Mindulle is not very organized yet with no evidence of an eye in the rain field. However, some banding is visible in the moderate rain rates (green areas) and a sizeable area of intense rain is present (dark red areas). The second image was taken at 06:01 UTC on the 28th and shows a mature typhoon with a large, well- defined eye surrounded by a definitive eyewall that contains areas of heavy rain (semicircle with dark red areas). At this time Mindulle was a Category 4 storm with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) as it was approaching the the the northern Philippines. The next image at this same time shows a vertical cross section, through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the intense rain (black area) in the western eyewall and a broad rain shield of moderate intensity rain (yellow areas) west of the center. Also evident is a bright band (horizontal yellow areas) wherein ice particle begin to melt as they fall through the freezing level. The final image was taken at 4:51 UTC on 1 July 2004. It shows a greatly weakened Mindulle hugging the east coast of Taiwan. The eyewall is gone and the center is surrounded by a large swirl of mostly light rain (blue areas). The heaviest rain rates are part of a large rain band that extends southwest of the center into the northern South China Sea. At this time, the maximum estimated winds were down to 75 knots (86 mph). 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
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Typhoon Mindulle
| Title |
Typhoon Mindulle |
| Description |
As the northern Philippines island of Luzon recovers from its brush with Typhoon Mindulle, the island nation of Taiwan now bears the brunt of the storm. Mindulle was responsible for 16 fatalities and 17 missing persons in the Philippines mainly from flash floods and is now hitting the east coast of Taiwan with 75 mph winds. Mindulle formed into a tropical depression from a monsoon gyre back on the 23rd of June 2004 just west of the Northern Mariana Islands. Mindulle quickly reached tropical storm strength but only slowly intensified over the next few days before finally becoming a minimal typhoon on the 27th in the Philippine Sea. Next came a period of rapid development as Mindulle's maximum sustained winds increased from 65 knots (75 mph) to 125 knots (144 mph) within a span of just 30 hours, and it's forward speed decreased dramatically as it approached the northern Philippines. Up until this point, Mindulle had been moving mainly due west but now turned north taking it through the Babuyan and Batan islands north of the main island of Luzon. The storm increased its forward speed slowly and began to weaken as it passed through the Bashi Channel headed for Taiwan. Mindulle passed by the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan on the evening (local time) of the 30th of June before continuing up along the east coast of Taiwan. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been fulfilling its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch back in November of 1997. With its passive and active sensors, TRMM is able to capture unique images of tropical cyclones providing a one of a kind perspective on their structures as seen by this series of images of Mindulle. The first image was taken at 15:39 UTC on 23 June 2004 when Mindulle was still just a tropical storm west of the Northern Mariana Islands with maximum sustained winds estimated at 35 knots (40 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This image shows that Mindulle is not very organized yet with no evidence of an eye in the rain field. However, some banding is visible in the moderate rain rates (green areas) and a sizeable area of intense rain is present (dark red areas). The second image was taken at 06:01 UTC on the 28th and shows a mature typhoon with a large, well- defined eye surrounded by a definitive eyewall that contains areas of heavy rain (semicircle with dark red areas). At this time Mindulle was a Category 4 storm with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) as it was approaching the the the northern Philippines. The next image at this same time shows a vertical cross section, through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the intense rain (black area) in the western eyewall and a broad rain shield of moderate intensity rain (yellow areas) west of the center. Also evident is a bright band (horizontal yellow areas) wherein ice particle begin to melt as they fall through the freezing level. The final image was taken at 4:51 UTC on 1 July 2004. It shows a greatly weakened Mindulle hugging the east coast of Taiwan. The eyewall is gone and the center is surrounded by a large swirl of mostly light rain (blue areas). The heaviest rain rates are part of a large rain band that extends southwest of the center into the northern South China Sea. At this time, the maximum estimated winds were down to 75 knots (86 mph). 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
|
Typhoon Mindulle
| Title |
Typhoon Mindulle |
| Description |
As the northern Philippines island of Luzon recovers from its brush with Typhoon Mindulle, the island nation of Taiwan now bears the brunt of the storm. Mindulle was responsible for 16 fatalities and 17 missing persons in the Philippines mainly from flash floods and is now hitting the east coast of Taiwan with 75 mph winds. Mindulle formed into a tropical depression from a monsoon gyre back on the 23rd of June 2004 just west of the Northern Mariana Islands. Mindulle quickly reached tropical storm strength but only slowly intensified over the next few days before finally becoming a minimal typhoon on the 27th in the Philippine Sea. Next came a period of rapid development as Mindulle's maximum sustained winds increased from 65 knots (75 mph) to 125 knots (144 mph) within a span of just 30 hours, and it's forward speed decreased dramatically as it approached the northern Philippines. Up until this point, Mindulle had been moving mainly due west but now turned north taking it through the Babuyan and Batan islands north of the main island of Luzon. The storm increased its forward speed slowly and began to weaken as it passed through the Bashi Channel headed for Taiwan. Mindulle passed by the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan on the evening (local time) of the 30th of June before continuing up along the east coast of Taiwan. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been fulfilling its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch back in November of 1997. With its passive and active sensors, TRMM is able to capture unique images of tropical cyclones providing a one of a kind perspective on their structures as seen by this series of images of Mindulle. The first image was taken at 15:39 UTC on 23 June 2004 when Mindulle was still just a tropical storm west of the Northern Mariana Islands with maximum sustained winds estimated at 35 knots (40 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This image shows that Mindulle is not very organized yet with no evidence of an eye in the rain field. However, some banding is visible in the moderate rain rates (green areas) and a sizeable area of intense rain is present (dark red areas). The second image was taken at 06:01 UTC on the 28th and shows a mature typhoon with a large, well- defined eye surrounded by a definitive eyewall that contains areas of heavy rain (semicircle with dark red areas). At this time Mindulle was a Category 4 storm with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) as it was approaching the the the northern Philippines. The next image at this same time shows a vertical cross section, through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the intense rain (black area) in the western eyewall and a broad rain shield of moderate intensity rain (yellow areas) west of the center. Also evident is a bright band (horizontal yellow areas) wherein ice particle begin to melt as they fall through the freezing level. The final image was taken at 4:51 UTC on 1 July 2004. It shows a greatly weakened Mindulle hugging the east coast of Taiwan. The eyewall is gone and the center is surrounded by a large swirl of mostly light rain (blue areas). The heaviest rain rates are part of a large rain band that extends southwest of the center into the northern South China Sea. At this time, the maximum estimated winds were down to 75 knots (86 mph). 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
|
Typhoon Mindulle
| Title |
Typhoon Mindulle |
| Description |
As the northern Philippines island of Luzon recovers from its brush with Typhoon Mindulle, the island nation of Taiwan now bears the brunt of the storm. Mindulle was responsible for 16 fatalities and 17 missing persons in the Philippines mainly from flash floods and is now hitting the east coast of Taiwan with 75 mph winds. Mindulle formed into a tropical depression from a monsoon gyre back on the 23rd of June 2004 just west of the Northern Mariana Islands. Mindulle quickly reached tropical storm strength but only slowly intensified over the next few days before finally becoming a minimal typhoon on the 27th in the Philippine Sea. Next came a period of rapid development as Mindulle's maximum sustained winds increased from 65 knots (75 mph) to 125 knots (144 mph) within a span of just 30 hours, and it's forward speed decreased dramatically as it approached the northern Philippines. Up until this point, Mindulle had been moving mainly due west but now turned north taking it through the Babuyan and Batan islands north of the main island of Luzon. The storm increased its forward speed slowly and began to weaken as it passed through the Bashi Channel headed for Taiwan. Mindulle passed by the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan on the evening (local time) of the 30th of June before continuing up along the east coast of Taiwan. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been fulfilling its mission of monitoring rainfall over the global tropics since its launch back in November of 1997. With its passive and active sensors, TRMM is able to capture unique images of tropical cyclones providing a one of a kind perspective on their structures as seen by this series of images of Mindulle. The first image was taken at 15:39 UTC on 23 June 2004 when Mindulle was still just a tropical storm west of the Northern Mariana Islands with maximum sustained winds estimated at 35 knots (40 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The image 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, 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). This image shows that Mindulle is not very organized yet with no evidence of an eye in the rain field. However, some banding is visible in the moderate rain rates (green areas) and a sizeable area of intense rain is present (dark red areas). The second image was taken at 06:01 UTC on the 28th and shows a mature typhoon with a large, well- defined eye surrounded by a definitive eyewall that contains areas of heavy rain (semicircle with dark red areas). At this time Mindulle was a Category 4 storm with sustained winds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph) as it was approaching the the the northern Philippines. The next image at this same time shows a vertical cross section, through the center of the storm from the PR looking northeast. It shows the intense rain (black area) in the western eyewall and a broad rain shield of moderate intensity rain (yellow areas) west of the center. Also evident is a bright band (horizontal yellow areas) wherein ice particle begin to melt as they fall through the freezing level. The final image was taken at 4:51 UTC on 1 July 2004. It shows a greatly weakened Mindulle hugging the east coast of Taiwan. The eyewall is gone and the center is surrounded by a large swirl of mostly light rain (blue areas). The heaviest rain rates are part of a large rain band that extends southwest of the center into the northern South China Sea. At this time, the maximum estimated winds were down to 75 knots (86 mph). 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
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Typhoon Nock-Ten strikes Tai
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Typhoon Nock-Ten strikes Taiwan |
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Typhoon Nock-ten left four people dead and 1 missing this past week after hitting the northeastern coast of Taiwan. Most of the deaths were a result of landslides. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been collecting unique images and valuable data of tropical cyclones since its launch in November of 1997. TRMM captured these images of Nock-ten as it was approaching Taiwan. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, at the time of the first TRMM overpass at 18:09 UTC on the 20th of October 2004, Nock-ten was already a Category 2 typhoon packing winds of 95 knots (109 mph). The first image shows a horizontal map of the near surface rainfall intensity obtained from that overpass. Rain rates in the center part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar or PR, while rain rates in the outer part of the swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager or TMI. The rainfall rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). A well-defined eye is apparent in the center of the cloud mass. A substantial area of intense rain is just south of the center with rain rates on the order of 2 inches per hour (dark red areas). The overall rain area is asymmetrical with the bulk of the rain occurring west of the center including additional areas of heavy rain (red areas). At the time of this image, Nock-ten was already west-southwest of Guam and was moving northwest. The second image was taken three days later on the 23rd of October at 18:35 UTC and shows Nock-ten near its peak intensity. The storm was now a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 105 knots (121 mph) as it approached Taiwan. Nock-ten still has a well-defined eye with heavy (red) to intense (dark red) rain in the northern half of the eye wall. The bulk of the rain is now skewed to the north of the center. A large area of white cloudy wisps show the storm's outflow to the north. Nock-ten would remain a Category 3 typhoon for 1 more day before weaking to a Category 2 storm as it passed Taiwan. The system then quickly decayed into a tropical storm before dissipating just north of Taiwan. Nock-ten means bird in Laotian. 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
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Typhoon Nock-Ten strikes Tai
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| Title |
Typhoon Nock-Ten strikes Taiwan |
| Description |
Typhoon Nock-ten left four people dead and 1 missing this past week after hitting the northeastern coast of Taiwan. Most of the deaths were a result of landslides. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been collecting unique images and valuable data of tropical cyclones since its launch in November of 1997. TRMM captured these images of Nock-ten as it was approaching Taiwan. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, at the time of the first TRMM overpass at 18:09 UTC on the 20th of October 2004, Nock-ten was already a Category 2 typhoon packing winds of 95 knots (109 mph). The first image shows a horizontal map of the near surface rainfall intensity obtained from that overpass. Rain rates in the center part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar or PR, while rain rates in the outer part of the swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager or TMI. The rainfall rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). A well-defined eye is apparent in the center of the cloud mass. A substantial area of intense rain is just south of the center with rain rates on the order of 2 inches per hour (dark red areas). The overall rain area is asymmetrical with the bulk of the rain occurring west of the center including additional areas of heavy rain (red areas). At the time of this image, Nock-ten was already west-southwest of Guam and was moving northwest. The second image was taken three days later on the 23rd of October at 18:35 UTC and shows Nock-ten near its peak intensity. The storm was now a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 105 knots (121 mph) as it approached Taiwan. Nock-ten still has a well-defined eye with heavy (red) to intense (dark red) rain in the northern half of the eye wall. The bulk of the rain is now skewed to the north of the center. A large area of white cloudy wisps show the storm's outflow to the north. Nock-ten would remain a Category 3 typhoon for 1 more day before weaking to a Category 2 storm as it passed Taiwan. The system then quickly decayed into a tropical storm before dissipating just north of Taiwan. Nock-ten means bird in Laotian. 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
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Typhoon Nock-Ten strikes Tai
…
| Title |
Typhoon Nock-Ten strikes Taiwan |
| Description |
Typhoon Nock-ten left four people dead and 1 missing this past week after hitting the northeastern coast of Taiwan. Most of the deaths were a result of landslides. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has been collecting unique images and valuable data of tropical cyclones since its launch in November of 1997. TRMM captured these images of Nock-ten as it was approaching Taiwan. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, at the time of the first TRMM overpass at 18:09 UTC on the 20th of October 2004, Nock-ten was already a Category 2 typhoon packing winds of 95 knots (109 mph). The first image shows a horizontal map of the near surface rainfall intensity obtained from that overpass. Rain rates in the center part of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar or PR, while rain rates in the outer part of the swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager or TMI. The rainfall rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). A well-defined eye is apparent in the center of the cloud mass. A substantial area of intense rain is just south of the center with rain rates on the order of 2 inches per hour (dark red areas). The overall rain area is asymmetrical with the bulk of the rain occurring west of the center including additional areas of heavy rain (red areas). At the time of this image, Nock-ten was already west-southwest of Guam and was moving northwest. The second image was taken three days later on the 23rd of October at 18:35 UTC and shows Nock-ten near its peak intensity. The storm was now a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 105 knots (121 mph) as it approached Taiwan. Nock-ten still has a well-defined eye with heavy (red) to intense (dark red) rain in the northern half of the eye wall. The bulk of the rain is now skewed to the north of the center. A large area of white cloudy wisps show the storm's outflow to the north. Nock-ten would remain a Category 3 typhoon for 1 more day before weaking to a Category 2 storm as it passed Taiwan. The system then quickly decayed into a tropical storm before dissipating just north of Taiwan. Nock-ten means bird in Laotian. 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), NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. |
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