The HS3 mission has provided valuable insights into the characteristics of long-lived tropical cyclones like Hurricane Nadine. The Global Hawk aircraft gathered data on Nadine's winds, temperature, and humidity, helping scientists understand how these storms can intensify despite being affected by dry air and strong westerly winds.
Tropical Storm Nadine has weakened from a hurricane and is now expected to move toward the south-southeast, potentially affecting the Azores. Wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures are forecasted to lead to its weakening.
NASA's Aqua satellite revealed strong convection and thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Nadine, strengthening it back into a hurricane. The storm has lingered for over two weeks, but is still far from breaking the record for longest-lived tropical cyclone.
The Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) mission uses Global Hawks to gather critical measurements of wind, temperature, humidity, and aerosol patterns in tropical storms. The mission aims to improve storm predictions and prevent costly coastal evacuations by analyzing previously difficult-to-get data.
Hurricane Miriam's visible image revealed by NASA's MODIS instrument showed a 30-nautical-mile wide eye covered by high clouds. The storm is currently a Category 2, with slow weakening forecasted over the next 48 hours.
NASA's Aqua satellite revealed powerful thunderstorms around Hurricane Miriam's center on Sept. 23, triggering the storm's rapid intensification. The satellite's infrared data showed cloud top temperatures exceeding -63 Fahrenheit (-52 Celsius), indicating uplift and heavy rainfall.
Hurricane Lane's eye has become cloud-filled, resembling being punched in the eye, due to powerful thunderstorms surrounding it. Cooler waters and increased wind shear are forecast to weaken the storm further, leading to its eventual dissipation by Wednesday.
Tropical Storm Nadine strengthened to a hurricane on September 14 and weakened back to a tropical storm on September 16. NASA's Global Hawk aircraft investigated the storm, capturing data using instruments and dropsondes, while satellites obtained imagery from space.
Tropical Storm Kristy weakened to a remnant low pressure area while Hurricane Lane strengthened into a hurricane, according to NASA's Terra satellite observations. Lane exhibited a tighter circulation than Kristy, prompting warnings of life-threatening surf and rip current conditions in southern and central Baja California.
Scientists from University of Miami's Deep-C consortium studied ocean heat content, salinity, and currents during Hurricane Isaac. The research aims to determine if upwelling and deep sea responses led to oil spills on the Gulf Coast.
Tropical Storm Nadine continues to battle wind shear and dry air that are keeping it under hurricane status, with maximum sustained winds near 70 mph. Satellite imagery shows Nadine has grown in size but appears more ragged and disorganized, with decreasing convection around the center of circulation.
Tropical Storm Nadine is battling wind shear and dry air, which are hindering its intensification. Despite reaching near-hurricane strength, the storm lacks symmetry in its cloud pattern, a crucial factor for hurricane formation.
The mission aims to study the processes that underlie hurricane formation and intensity change. The data collected will help scientists decipher the relative roles of large-scale environment and internal storm processes.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new method for forecasting seasonal hurricane activity that outperforms traditional techniques by 15%. The approach identifies key combinations of factors most predictive of hurricane activity and provides a probability scale for the forthcoming season. With an 80% accurac...
Tropical Storm Leslie and Hurricane Michael are being closely monitored by NASA, with Leslie now past Bermuda and Michael weakening due to cooler waters. Leslie is expected to transition from a warm core system to a cold core system, while Michael's weakening is attributed to atmospheric conditions and ocean temperatures.
NASA's Global Hawk aircraft has begun flying over Hurricane Leslie in the Atlantic Ocean, collecting data on hurricane formation and intensification. The mission will help researchers understand the relative roles of large-scale environment and internal storm processes in shaping hurricanes.
NASA satellites captured stunning visible and infrared images of Hurricane Michael's eye, revealing clear views of the Atlantic Ocean. The storm's cloud top temperatures cooled around its center on September 7.
Hurricane Leslie appears to be 'closing its eye' on NASA satellite imagery, a sign of weakening, and dropped from hurricane to tropical storm on Sept. 7. The storm is expected to move northward, potentially regaining hurricane status over the weekend.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured two images of Hurricane Leslie on Sept. 5, just as it was being re-classified from a tropical storm to a hurricane. The MODIS and AIRS instruments provided infrared and visible imagery of the storm, showing an eye had formed in Leslie.
NASA's TRMM satellite observed intense rainfall and towering thunderstorms in Hurricane Michael, indicating a potential intensification. Over the next 24 hours, Michael's maximum sustained winds more than doubled from 50 mph to 115 mph.
Tropical Storm Leslie is experiencing slow strengthening due to cooler ocean waters kicked up by its slow movement, sapping its strength. The storm is also battling weaker wind shear, which has been gradually decreasing, allowing it to potentially reach hurricane status later in the day.
NASA's TRMM satellite spotted hot towers around Ileana's center, indicating a strong increase to hurricane status. The storm strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 80 mph within 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Kirk intensified into a hurricane on Aug. 30, becoming the fifth of the season, while Tropical Depression 12 formed in the central Atlantic Ocean. TD12 is expected to strengthen over warm waters and potentially become a hurricane by Sept. 2.
Hurricane Isaac made two landfalls in southeastern Louisiana, causing widespread flooding due to its slow movement and intense energy from warm Gulf waters. The storm also brought isolated tornadoes as it moved inland, posing a significant threat to the region.
Hurricane Isaac is expected to bring heavy rain and storm surge to the northern Gulf Coast. The large storm system poses a threat for flooding due to its slow movement over Louisiana, and residents are bracing for the arrival of the hurricane.
Scientists suggest cloud seeding could reduce hurricane power by a category by increasing sunlight reflection in clouds above hurricane development regions. The technique, Marine Cloud Brightening, could also lead to increased rainfall in some areas but not others.
Hurricane Gordon was tracked for three days by NASA satellites, showing its strength and eye structure. The storm weakened to a tropical storm on August 20 with maximum sustained winds near 70 mph.
Tropical Storm Gordon's clouds became less symmetric due to southwesterly wind shear, indicating a shift in its circulation. The storm was moving eastward at 18 mph with sustained winds near 65 mph.
Tropical Depression 8 strengthened into Tropical Storm Gordon on August 15, after days of organization and development across the eastern Atlantic. The storm is expected to track east into the Atlantic, potentially affecting the Azores, with strengthening expected over warm waters.
A recent Texas A&M University study reveals that hurricanes can intensify by 50% faster when passing over large areas of fresh water, making them more devastating. The research analyzed Tropical Cyclones for the decade 1998-2007 and found a significant correlation between freshwater regions and increased storm intensity.
Hurricane Gilma showed concentrated areas of very cold cloud tops with temperatures as low as -63F (-52C), indicating powerful thunderstorms. The storm is moving towards cooler waters, expected to weaken over the next day.
Heavy rainfall and high thunderstorms are expected from NASA's observations of Tropical Storm Ernesto, with estimated totals of 12 inches in isolated areas. The storm's center is surrounded by strong storms, producing cloud top temperatures as cold as -63F (-52C).
Tropical Storm Ernesto is strengthening with NASA tracking its progress, revealing strong thunderstorms and deep convection on August 5. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 50 mph on August 5, and it continued to strengthen after passing over the Aqua satellite.
Remnants of Hurricane Emilia appear as a light swirl of clouds about 800 miles east-southeast of Hilo, moving west at close to 20 mph. Conditions are not favorable for re-development, and the storm is expected to weaken to depression status in cooler waters.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument captured a visible image of Hurricane Emilia on July 12, revealing an eye with high clouds overhead. Infrared data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument showed powerful thunderstorms and cold cloud tops surrounding the eye of the hurricane.
Hurricane Emilia has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, as it moves west-northwest at 10 mph.
Cloud top temperatures around Hurricane Emilia's eye were measured to be colder than -94F, indicating high-energy storms. NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites tracked the hurricane's rapid strengthening and weakening phases.
NASA's GOES-15 satellite captured an image of three tropical systems chasing each other in the eastern Pacific Ocean, with Tropical Storm Daniel and Hurricane Emilia at the center. The system is expected to weaken to tropical depression status by July 11.
Two hurricanes, Daniel and Emilia, are being tracked by NASA's TRMM satellite, which showed intense rainfall in Emilia's northwestern quadrant. Hurricane-force winds extend only 25 miles from the center of both storms, with Emilia expected to intensify further
A study by Princeton University researchers reveals that expectant mothers who experienced a hurricane or major tropical storm during pregnancy had children at elevated risk for abnormal health conditions at birth. The study controlled for other factors and found increased risk following exposure to weather-related stressors in the fir...
NASA's Aqua satellite data revealed that sea surface temperatures of 290 Kelvin (62°F) in the area where Chris is located were not sufficient to maintain its strength. As a result, Chris weakened and became a post-tropical storm with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.
Hurricane Chris became the first storm of the Atlantic season to reach hurricane strength on June 21, 2012, with cloud top temperatures indicating strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. Forecasters expect it to weaken as it moves into stable air and cooler waters, eventually becoming a post-tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Carlotta has intensified, with powerful high thunderstorms almost 10 miles high, and is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flooding to Mexico. The storm is forecast to make landfall in the Mexican states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas.
Tropical Storm Carlotta has bitter cold cloud tops, indicating strong thunderstorms and high winds. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, bringing heavy rainfall, flooding, and mudslides to the Pacific coast of Mexico.
A Rice University study identifies over a dozen Gulf Coast bridges at risk of severe damage in a hurricane with stronger winds than Hurricane Ike. The research helps public safety officials plan emergency responses and identify potential fixes for existing bridges.
NASA's Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) mission will deploy two Global Hawk aircraft to study hurricane formation and intensity changes. The aircraft will sample the environment of storms and measure winds, precipitation, and other factors to improve hurricane prediction.
Hurricane Bud is expected to make a quick landfall in western Mexico before turning back to sea, bringing heavy rainfall and severe flooding to the region. The storm's slow movement may result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides as it moves over Mexico's rugged coastal terrain.
Bud has become the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific Hurricane Season, with NASA satellites providing key imagery and data. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and life-threatening surf conditions to southwestern Mexico.
NASA satellites captured Tropical Storm Bud in the eastern Pacific Ocean on May 21 and May 22, revealing a well-formed storm. Forecasters expect Bud to strengthen into a hurricane due to light wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.
A 2004 hurricane provided a rare opportunity for scientists to study the founder effect, a concept that describes the loss of genetic variation in new populations. The study found that both natural selection and the founder effect played roles in shaping the lizard population's characteristics.
A recent study by Princeton researchers found that Hurricane Katrina survivors continued to experience poor mental health nearly five years after the storm. The study, which tracked low-income mothers in the New Orleans area before and after the disaster, showed a persistence of high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms.
NASA satellites track Hurricane Kenneth's record-breaking path, reaching category three status with maximum sustained winds of near 145 mph. The storm is expected to weaken due to cooler sea surface temperatures and increasing wind shear.
Hurricane Kenneth formed as a tropical depression on November 19 and strengthened into a hurricane by November 21, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. The storm is expected to turn west and slow down, with heavy rainfall occurring around its center.
Hurricane Rina is intensifying off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, with NASA satellite imagery showing stronger thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures indicating increased power. The storm is projected to make landfall in the hurricane warning area by Wednesday night or early Thursday, bringing heavy rainfall and dangerous storm surge.
Research finds clustered hurricane activity reduces damage to coral reefs and ecosystems, allowing for recovery time. Clustering of storms also benefits insurance companies by providing time to rebuild profits.
Hurricane Jova's eye appears as 'winking' to NASA satellites due to varying cloud cover. Infrared data reveals frigid cloud top temperatures of -80C (-112F), indicating tremendous storm power. The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Mexico tonight, bringing significant flooding and rough seas.
NASA's TRMM satellite provided critical clues to Philippe's strengthening, revealing towering thunderstorms and intense rainfall. The satellite's data showed deep convective towers reaching heights of over 13km, indicating the storm was intensifying.
Tropical Storm Philippe is battling intense wind shear from the northwest, causing heavy rainfall and powerful thunderstorms on its southeastern quadrant. The storm may strengthen and reach hurricane status in the next couple of days.
Hurricane Hilary is experiencing its heaviest rainfall in the northwest quadrant, with rain falling at 2 inches per hour. The storm is also showing signs of strengthening, with cloud tops cooling and towering clouds indicating increased power.
NASA satellite imagery revealed 'hot towers' around Hurricane Maria's center, indicating its inner strength and potential intensification. Cloud temperatures also showed strong convection and powerful thunderstorms, with cloud-top temperatures as cold as -63F/-52C.