RSS Feeds

Earth Science

Space Science

Life Science

Fields of Scientific Study

Nanotechnology

Cancer

Definitions of The Fields of Scientific Study

NASA Eyes Category 4 Hurricane Felicia and a Stubborn Enrique

August 07, 2009

Felicia is the storm that rules the Eastern Pacific Ocean this week, but Enrique refuses to give up. Felicia is a major hurricane with sustained winds near 140 mph, and Enrique is still hanging onto tropical storm status with 50 mph sustained winds. Both cyclones are close to each other and two NASA satellites captured them together.

On August 6 at 5 a.m. EDT, powerful Felicia is still a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. She's far out to sea, about 1,480 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California near 15.5 north and 131.2 west. She's moving west-northwest near 10 mph, and is expected to speed up and start to weaken in the next couple of days because of colder waters in her path. Felicia's minimum central pressure is 937 millibars.

Boys can be stubborn, and Enrique is proving that, even though he's a tropical storm with a boy's name. Despite Enrique's close proximity to Felicia, he's maintaining sustained winds near 50 mph. At 5 a.m. EDT, Enrique's center was 345 miles behind Felicia's, near 20.7 north and 125.9 west. He's speeding northwest near 17 mph into cooler waters which is going to weaken him over the next day or two. Enrique's minimum central pressure is 1,000 millibars, much higher than Felicia's indicating a much weaker storm. The higher the atmospheric pressure the weaker the tropical cyclone.

NASA's Terra satellite flew over Felicia and Enrique and using the Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured them side-by-side on August 5 at 3 p.m. EDT. The satellite image clearly showed an eye in powerful Hurricane Felicia, while Tropical Storm Enrique's eye was not clear.

Terra wasn't the only satellite to capture Felicia and Enrique battling it out for territory in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. NASA's Aqua satellite also flew overhead and its Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured the frigid cloud temperatures in both storms. Felicia's clouds are colder and higher than Enrique's clouds, because stronger hurricanes have higher (and more powerful) thunderstorms.

Using AIRS and other infrared imagery to determine cloud temperature, the National Hurricane Center noted in their discussion on August 6, that Felicia's "eye has been warming and has become more well-defined over the past few hours but at the same time the cold cloud tops around the eye have also been warming." That's an indication that Felicia will start waning in strength.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Related Hurricane Current Events and Hurricane News Articles

Hurricane Current Events and Hurricane News RSS

Ida now a coastal low assaulting the Mid-Atlantic
Ida is one stubborn girl. Her remnants have moved out to sea and reformed as a powerful coastal low pressure system that's been raining on the mid-Atlantic since Tuesday night, November 10.

NASA Satellites See Ida Spreading Out Before Landfall
NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Ida, and both have instruments aboard that show her clouds and rains are already widespread inland over the U.S. Gulf coast states.

Typhoon Mirinae is already scaring Philippine residents before Halloween
Another typhoon in the northern Philippines really is something to be scared about, and Mirinae is expected to make landfall there in the mid-morning hours on Halloween, October 31.

Papahanaumokuakea National Monument Facing Hurricane Neki
A hurricane warning is in force for the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument from Nihoa Island to French Frigate Shoals to Maro Reef. Hurricane conditions likely there by 5 a.m. HST on Friday, October 23.

Researchers can predict hurricane-related power outages
Using data from Hurricane Katrina and four other destructive storms, researchers from Johns Hopkins and Texas A&M universities say they have found a way to accurately predict power outages in advance of a hurricane.

Seismic Noise Unearths Lost Hurricanes
Seismologists have found a new way to piece together the history of hurricanes in the North Atlantic - by looking back through records of the planet's seismic noise. It's an entirely new way to tap into the rich trove of seismic records, and the strategy might help establish a link between global warming and the frequency or intensity of hurricanes.

Baja California Residents Should Prepare for Hurricane Rick
Based on computer forecast models, the residents of southern and central Baja California should prepare over the weekend for now Tropical Storm Rick. Rick formed late yesterday, October 15, and is expected to become a major hurricane over the weekend.

Baja watching Tropical Storm Patricia in the latest GOES-11 satellite movie
The nineteenth tropical cyclone of the Eastern Pacific formed over this past weekend, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Patricia.

NASA satellite reveals a depressed and disorganized Henri
Depression happens to everyone, even tropical storms, and Henri is now tropically depressed. NASA satellite imagery has confirmed he's weakened to a tropical depression and he is further expected to degenerate into a remnant low pressure area.

Henri born in Eastern Atlantic... could be short-lived
Forecasters were watching a storm they designated as 91 yesterday, October 6, until it organized into a tropical cyclone east of the Leeward Islands around 5 p.m. EDT. It was then named "Tropical Storm Henri," the eighth named tropical cyclone of the Atlantic hurricane season.

More Hurricane Current Events and Hurricane News Articles

	Block Faro 13" Glass Hurricane by Block Crystal Block Faro 13" Clear Glass Hurricane Candle Holder
	Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival by Kirby Larson (Author), Mary Nethery (Author), Jean Cassels (Illustrator) Bobbi and Bob Cat are the best of friends. When their hometown of New Orleans was struck by Hurricane Katrina, many lost everything. But not Bobbi and Bob Cat—they still had each other. Only by staying together could they survive. This is the story of their remarkable friendship.
	The Hurricane Starring: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber, John Hannah Directed By: Norman Jewison Also With: Armyan Bernstein (Producer), Armyan Bernstein (Writer), Irving Azoff (Producer), Dan Gordon (Writer), Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter (Writer), Sam Chaiton (Writer), Terry Swinton (Writer) RUBIN HURRICANE CARTER IS CUT DOWN IN THE PRIME OF HIS BOXING CAREER AND CONVICTED OF THREE MURDERS HE DID NOT COMMIT. SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON, CARTER WRITES A BEST-SELLING AUTOBIOGRAPHY CALLED THE SIXTEENTH ROUND WHICH INSPIRES A YOUNG MAN TO ENLIST THE HELP OF ACTIVISTS TO MAKE CARTER A FREE MAN.
	Hello Hurricane by Switchfoot Switchfoot is an alternative rock band from San Diego, CA. They are known for their energetic live shows, the three guitarists in the line-up often operate simultaneously, building on the pop sensibilities of Foreman's songwriting, rounded out by Fontamillas's work on the synthesizer, bringing his industrial roots to the sound, the band works up 'the Switchfoot sound'- a melodic crunch of densely layered sound featuring some electronic experimentation, and often driven by hard-charging guitar riffs, while throwing in a few softer ballads as well.
	Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Hand-Painted Footed Hurricane Candle Holder with Candle by Pfaltzgraff Pfaltzgraff Winterberry glass hurricane candle holder with candle included is a festive addition to your tablesetting. Place this hurricane candle as a centerpiece alone or with holiday flowers to create a warm, inviting seasonal buffet or table.
	Hello Hurricane [Deluxe] Switchfoot (Primary Contributor)
	The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Douglas Brinkley (Author) In the span of five violent hours on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed major Gulf Coast cities and flattened 150 miles of coastline. But it was only the first stage of a shocking triple tragedy. On the heels of one of the three strongest hurricanes ever to make landfall in the United States came the storm-surge flooding, which submerged a half-million homes—followed by the human tragedy of government mismanagement, which proved as cruel as the natural disaster itself. In The Great Deluge, bestselling author Douglas Brinkley finds the true heroes of this unparalleled catastrophe, and lets the survivors tell their own stories, masterly allowing them to record the nightmare that was Katrina.
	The Hurricane [HD DVD] Starring: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber, John Hannah Directed By: Norman Jewison In his direction of The Hurricane, veteran filmmaker Norman Jewison understands that slavish loyalty to factual detail is no guarantee of compelling screen biography. In telling the story of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter--who was wrongly convicted of murder in 1967 and spent nearly two decades in jail--Jewison and his screenwriters compress time, combine characters, and rearrange events with a nonchalance that would be galling if they didn't remain honest to the core truth of Carter's ordeal. Because of that emotional integrity--and because Denzel Washington brings total conviction to his title role--The Hurricane rises above the confines of biographical fidelity to embrace higher values of courage, compassion, and ultimate justice. Jewison is woefully heavy-handed in his treatment...
	Anchor Hocking 4-1/2-Ounce Hurricane Votive Candle Holder, Pack of 12 by Anchor Hocking Candle holder perfect for home decor, weddings and crafting and comes in a traditional design adds charm to any table. Can be used in dishwasher and is made in USA.
	Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Trainer by Pro Performance The Hurricane combines the best elements of our "Hit-a-Way" with the best elements of the "Target." All-in-one, durable, quality solo hitting trainer. Excellent for baseball and softball training. Easy set up and use, adjustable center column.