A severe weather outbreak on June 1, 2012, generated 9 weak tornadoes across Maryland. NASA's Aqua satellite and NOAA's GOES-13 satellite provided critical information about the storm's movement and intensity, including cloud temperatures and heights.
Typhoon Mawar was observed to be producing a large area of rainfall southeast of Japan, with most heavy rainfall occurring north of the dissipating tropical cyclone's center. The storm's surface temperature and extent were also studied using NASA's Aqua satellite, revealing a lack of an eye wall and weakening circulation.
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.
Tropical Storm Beryl formed off the Carolina coast and was monitored by NASA satellites. The storm made landfall near Jacksonville, Florida, causing heavy rainfall and dangerous surf conditions in nearby areas.
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.
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing an infinitely smaller segmented mirror, called the Multiple Mirror Array (MMA), that will revolutionize space-based telescopes. The MMA promises to detect, image, and characterize planets beyond our solar system from a high-altitude balloon.
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.
Tropical Storm Sanvu continues to intensify under NASA observation, with wind speeds reaching over 60 knots and heavy rainfall wrapping around its northeastern side. The storm's center is predicted to form an eye, energizing the core of the storm with powerful thunderstorms.
Alberto weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression as seen by NASA's Aqua satellite. The National Hurricane Center expects it to continue moving northeast and speed up, eventually becoming a post-tropical remnant low pressure area.
The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has delivered magnetometers for NASA's Mars Atmosphere And Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission. The instruments will measure the magnetic field on Mars, helping scientists understand particle motion and the solar wind's interaction with the planet's atmosphere.
Tropical Storm Alberto formed on May 19, 2012, off South Carolina's coast, with NASA's TRMM and Aqua satellites monitoring its development. The storm strengthened to 50 mph by Sunday, but then weakened to 40 mph by Monday morning.
The Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) has been declared ready for delivery to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. This instrument will allow astronomers to explore the formation of planets around distant stars and could pave the way for investigations into other planetary systems.
The University of Nevada, Reno's GPS technology will be used by NASA to monitor strong earthquakes along the West Coast. The system can detect changes in ground positions greater than 10 centimeters in real-time.
A NASA animated video shows a week's worth of ash and gas clouds emitted from Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano, with most debris blowing to the southeast. The volcano's alert level remains at 'Yellow Phase Three' due to potential explosive activity.
The NASA visualization brings back the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph, taken by Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968. The image captures the moon's surface and the Earth's vibrant colors, showcasing the planet's beauty and fragility. The recreation uses detailed maps gathered by LRO and was funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
New stitching technique improves measurement of large aspheres in optics industry. Wavefront sensing technology enhances eye health diagnosis and treatment in medical industry.
A NASA animation of GOES-13 satellite data reveals the development and movement of a massive tornado outbreak in the Great Plains on April 14-15, 2012. The animation helped meteorologists issue timely warnings that saved lives during the devastating event.
The TRMM satellite observed powerful thunderstorms in northeastern Texas, reaching heights of over 8 miles. The storms dropped softball-sized hail and triggered 18 reported tornadoes on April 3.
The partnership aims to help students master mathematics through real-world applications and connections between math and science. The SpaceMath@NASA program uses NASA's latest discoveries to develop grade-appropriate math problems for grades 3-12.
The NASA Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment project is upgrading the network's ground communications infrastructure with new, cutting-edge technology. The new architecture will enable easier technology refreshes, increased customer data rate capabilities, and lower operations costs.
The Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar has arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, providing three-dimensional measurements of raindrop shapes and sizes to better understand storm physical properties. This instrument will be integrated into the GPM Core Observatory, enabling more accurate precipitation estimates globally.
In 2012, areas usually covered in snow are bare due to La Niña conditions and a strong Arctic Oscillation. The resulting snow cover is significantly lower than in 2011, with the Great Lakes, Rocky Mountains, and East Coast experiencing less snow.
Two new NASA LRO videos reveal the moon's evolutionary history, exploring how it came to appear today. The 'Evolution of the Moon' video explains the moon's formation from a giant ball of magma and its subsequent impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken Basin.
A powerful weather system is moving through the central and eastern U.S., generating more severe weather and at least 12 tornadoes reported in three states. NASA's GOES-13 satellite captured the movement of the weather system, which pushed east as it generated severe weather in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
The GPM mission, a joint effort between NASA and JAXA, aims to improve climate, weather, and hydrological predictions by providing accurate precipitation measurements from space. The GMI instrument will play a crucial role in measuring precipitation and environmental forecasting, particularly during extreme weather events.
A NASA satellite animation has revealed the movement of a tornadic weather system that triggered at least 20 tornadoes on February 29, 2012. The animation, created using GOES-13 visible and infrared satellite imagery, shows the progression of the cold front and associated low pressure area as it moved over the central US.
The NASA Space Weather App allows users to view Solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) minutes after an event occurs. The app provides real-time access to solar-event images, model simulations, data, and forecasts for Android smartphone and tablet users.
NASA is upgrading its Global Positioning System (GPS) and International Terrestrial Reference Frame to improve location accuracy. The new systems will benefit not only GPS but also observations of Earth from space, enabling more precise measurements of the planet's shape, orientation, and gravity field.
The Goddard Institute for Space Studies will receive specialized scientific support services from Trinnovim, LLC, under a $2.86 million contract. The services include scientific programming, analysis, and logistical support for GISS research programs.
The CERES instrument has begun scanning Earth, providing a long-term record of the energy balance and helping scientists understand climate change. The satellite's data will aid in monitoring minute changes in the Earth's energy budget, which is critical for understanding how human activities impact the planet.
The IBEX team has analyzed samples of captured interstellar neutral atoms, providing insights into the formation of new stars, planets, and human beings. The findings also reveal that the solar system is still in a local interstellar cloud and will transition to a different region within a few thousand years.
Dr. F. Michael Flasar, Dr. Anthony D. Del Genio and Dr. James Slavin recognized for their outstanding contributions to Earth and space sciences. Flasar's work on planetary atmospheres, including Titan's unique atmosphere, was highlighted as fundamental to understanding climate physics.
Two NASA satellites, Aqua and TRMM, provide detailed storm information on Cyclone Funso. The cyclone has a 11-mile-wide eye and intense thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures below -63F.
The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project has been renamed Suomi NPP in recognition of Verner Suomi's contributions to weather forecasting and climate change research. The new name reflects the mission's objective of advancing scientific knowledge of Earth and improving weather forecasts.
NASA's GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment will measure light rain and snow in Ontario from Jan. 17 to Feb. 29 using an airborne science laboratory, simulating the measurements to be taken by the planned GPM Core satellite in 2014.
NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites provided critical data on Tropical Storm Heidi's temperature, cloud heights and rainfall, enabling forecasters to predict its strengthening before landfall. The data revealed warm sea surface temperatures, intensifying rainfall, and high cloud heights, all indicative of a tropical storm gaining strength.
Tropical Storm Washi's rainfall analysis revealed widespread heavy rain throughout the entire storm. The storm showed improved organization and thunderstorms spiraling into its center, with feeder bands converging near Mindanao.
Engineers are using COCOA to verify the correct shape of the mirrors on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, which will be tested at operating temperatures. The results will ensure the telescope works correctly as a whole, providing images of the first galaxies and exploring planets around distant stars.
Tropical Storm Alenga formed in the Indian Ocean, with NASA's TRMM satellite capturing heavy rainfall rates over 50 mm per hour. The storm is expected to intensify before weakening again as it becomes an extra-tropical storm, moving into a hostile environment.
The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard NASA's NPP satellite has acquired its first measurements, capturing high-resolution imagery of Eastern North America. The data will be used to observe the Earth's surface, including fires, ice, ocean color, vegetation, clouds, and land and sea surface temperatures.
Matthew Ritsko, a Financial Manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, won the 2011 Presidential Securing Americans' Value and Efficiency (SAVE) award for his proposal to create a 'lending library' of space tools and hardware. The idea garnered over 19,000 votes from more than 48,000 Americans.
NASA is studying three experimental methods for capturing and transporting particles using laser light, including optical vortex and solenoid beams. The goal is to develop a system that can collect extraterrestrial samples more efficiently and reduce mission costs.
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.
NASA has released a series of new satellite data visualizations showing tens of millions of fires detected globally from space. The data helps scientists understand the impact of fire on local, regional and global scales.
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 plans to demonstrate a new optical communications system that can transmit high-definition video and data at speeds of tens of gigabits per second. The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aims to revolutionize the Agency's communication capabilities, making it possible to stream video from distances beyond the Moon.
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.
NASA's Aqua satellite revealed powerful convection in System 94W, strengthening it into Tropical Storm Sonca. Infrared data showed cloud temperatures and heights, aiding forecasters in predicting the storm's behavior.
NASA satellites have been monitoring Hurricane Katia's transition, capturing clear images of its cloud patterns and spiral shape characteristic of strong storms. The storm has undergone eyewall replacement, with a double-eyewall formation indicating it is likely to maintain major hurricane status.
Hurricane Irene's diameter is nearly one-third the length of the U.S. Atlantic coastline, with winds extending 255 miles from its center.
NASA satellite data shows strong convection in both Tropical Storm Fernanda and Hurricane Greg, making them match in size. Both systems are moving towards the western coast of Mexico.
Tropical Storm Muifa is filling the Yellow Sea with its cloud cover, stretching from China to South and North Korea. NASA satellites captured images showing strong thunderstorms around the eye of the storm, with the heaviest rain falling east of the center.
Tropical Storm Emily was formed and morphed into an elongated area of low pressure over the Caribbean Sea. A 60% chance of a comeback is given by the National Hurricane Center due to favorable upper-level winds on the weekend.
Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are expected from Tropical Storm Don as it approaches landfall in southeastern Texas. NASA's satellite images reveal powerful thunderstorms and cold cloud tops surrounding the storm's center, with rainfall totals reaching up to 5 inches in some areas.
NASA's GOES-13 satellite captured the formation of Tropical Storm Don, which strengthened into a tropical depression and then storm over two days. The storm is expected to bring isolated showers and tropical storm-force winds to Texas coast, potentially providing drought relief.
NASA's MODIS instrument on the Aqua and Terra satellites captured visible images of light brown smoke from wildfires streaming toward the Great Lakes. The data revealed high levels of aerosols, particularly north of the Great Lakes, posing a health hazard due to pollution from Ontario fires.
The NASA Visualization Explorer app allows users to interact with extraordinary images, video, and information about NASA's Earth science research. The app features high-resolution movies, short written stories, and interviews with scientists, all designed to be easily accessible to the general public.
Tropical Storms Bret and Cindy are currently in the open waters of the North Atlantic, hundreds of miles east-northeast of Bermuda. Both storms show strong convection with cloud top temperatures as cold as -70 Celsius, indicating high thunderstorms.
Hurricane Dora's eye was visible on multiple NASA satellites, including Aqua and GOES-11, providing forecasters with clear views of the storm's intensification. The National Hurricane Center expects some weakening by tonight and rapid weakening on Friday as Dora battles wind shear and cooler waters.
The NASA Aura satellite measures pollution 'butterfly' formed by nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from agricultural fires in central Africa. High concentrations of NO2 were detected over the Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola, posing a threat to air quality and health.