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.
The remnants of Tropical Depression 8E continue to bring heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorms to Mexico's southwestern coast, with 4-6 inches of rain expected over the states of Guerrero, Michoacan, and Colima. The National Hurricane Center has issued their last warning for the area, indicating a low chance of regeneration.
Katia becomes a Category one hurricane with sustained winds near 75 mph, forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane by Sunday.
The TRMM satellite captured images of Tropical Storm Katia's moderate to heavy rain and banding patterns, indicating a cyclonic circulation. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it encounters warmer waters and reduced wind shear, posing a threat to the Leeward Islands.
A NASA satellite observed a record-breaking heat wave in the Great Plains during July, with temperatures soaring up to 20°F above average. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument detected a persistent high-pressure vortex that pumped hot air from the tropics into the region.
Tropical Storm Nanmadol made landfall in southeastern China's Fujian Province on August 31, dissipating quickly over mainland China. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Talas is still headed for Japan, with a projected landfall on September 2.
NASA's TRMM satellite detected isolated areas of heavy rainfall within Tropical Depression 8E before it organized. The depression is forecast to bring heavy rainfall and 4-6 inches of precipitation to coastal sections of Mexico's Guerrero, Michoacan, and Colima states
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has compiled rainfall total maps for Hurricane Irene, showing the eastern US was hit with extreme rainfall. The heaviest rainfalls were recorded in North Carolina and northeastern states, causing widespread flooding and damage.
A large-scale meteorological event, an abnormal Rossby wave, sparked extreme heat in Russia and unusual downstream wind patterns that shifted rainfall in the Indian monsoon region, fueling heavy flooding in Pakistan. The study analyzed satellite data to show the connection between the two events.
Tropical Depression 12 strengthened into tropical storm Katia as daylight broke in the eastern Atlantic this morning. Katia is currently a compact tropical storm with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane due to warm sea surface temperatures.
NASA satellites continue to monitor the remnants of Hurricane Irene as they bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to eastern Canada. The storm's massive size and remnants have caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in Quebec, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
NASA satellites monitor Tropical Storm Jose and newly formed Tropical Depression 12 in the Atlantic, while Hurricane Irene drenches Quebec and Newfoundland in Canada. The National Hurricane Center expects TD12 to strengthen into a tropical storm or hurricane later this week due to low wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures.
NASA satellites gathered detailed rainfall measurements and spotted heavy thunderstorms around Irene's center, indicating the storm's power. The storms were dropping rainfall at 2 inches per hour, with hurricane-force winds expected along the eastern U.S. coast.
Super Typhoon Namadol has strengthened to a Category Four typhoon with winds near 135 knots (155 mph), while Tropical Storm Talas is expected to intensify further due to favorable conditions. The storms are forecast to bring heavy rainfall and rough seas to the Philippines and Japan.
Hurricane Irene's diameter is nearly one-third the length of the U.S. Atlantic coastline, with winds extending 255 miles from its center.
Two studies reveal that the star was torn apart by intense tides as it approached the black hole, creating an unprecedented outburst of energy. The outburst produced X-rays and radio emissions that pointed straight at Earth, offering insights into relativistic beaming.
Hurricane Irene strengthened into a major hurricane on the GOES-13 satellite video, reaching Category 3 status with 115mph winds. The storm is expected to make landfall in eastern North Carolina as a major hurricane, bringing devastating damage and heavy rainfall.
The TRMM satellite captured detailed images of Hurricane Irene, revealing a lack of eye formation and organized circulation. Rainbands indicated low-pressure circulation, with areas of intense rain near the center, suggesting potential for strengthening.
Fire response teams use Landsat satellite data to protect houses, wildlife, and bodies of water. The US Department of Agriculture Forest Service's Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC) uses Landsat data to create maps depicting ecologic changes due to high temperatures after a fire.
Researchers confirmed that tropical cyclones with hot towers intensify faster than those without. Hurricane Irene featured multiple 'hot towers', leading to its intensification into a hurricane. The storm's heavy rainfall is expected across several Caribbean islands, with totals reaching up to 20 inches in some areas.
Tropical Depression 8 is expected to produce heavy rainfall across Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize, with total accumulations of 3-5 inches possible. Isolated areas may see up to 8 inches, posing a risk of flash flooding and mudslides.
The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) has completed 2,000 individual tests at cryogenic temperatures, a milestone for the James Webb Space Telescope mission. Scientists will use MIRI to study young planets around distant stars and explore their habitability.
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 Storms Fernanda and Greg are chasing each other in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Fernanda appears more organized and stronger, while Greg is still developing its signature shape. Greg has moderate to heavy rainfall along the southwestern Mexico coastline.
The TRMM satellite captured rainfall data on four areas in the Atlantic Ocean that have potential for developing into tropical cyclones. System 92L and 93L show improved organization, but no surface circulation has formed yet.
The Operational Land Imager (OLI), built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., has been approved for shipment to Orbital Sciences Corporation. OLI will provide more sensitive land cover information and better detect changes over time, benefiting scientific, commercial, and governmental users.
Researchers found adenine and guanine, key components of DNA, in meteorites, providing evidence they were created in space. The discovery supports the theory that a 'kit' of prebiotic material was delivered to Earth by meteorite impacts.
X-class flares are the largest explosions in the solar system, producing as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs. These powerful events can cause long-lasting radiation storms that harm satellites, communications systems, and ground-based technologies.
The NASA National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) has successfully completed its most comprehensive end-to-end compatibility test. The NPP satellite contains a suite of five sensors that will make measurements to continue producing key data products about Earth.
Tropical Depression Emily made a brief comeback on August 6, strengthening to 30 mph winds before dissipating by Sunday. NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of Emily's thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures, showing signs of strengthening and heavy rain.
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.
A NASA scientist and her colleagues observed for the first time that an earthquake and tsunami can break off large icebergs a hemisphere away. The Tohoku Tsunami in 2011 caused massive waves to reach Antarctica, calving off several chunks of ice that equaled about two times the surface area of Manhattan.
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.
Typhoon Muifa is almost twice as large as Tropical Storm Merbok, with winds extending 220 miles from its center. The storms were captured side-by-side by NASA's Aqua satellite on August 5, 2011, showing Muifa's well-defined eye and stronger organization.
Warmer cloud top temperatures suggest a decrease in cloud heights and storm energy for Tropical Storm Eugene. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached near 65 mph on August 5.
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.
Tropical Storm Muifa has grown in size, with cloud top temperatures indicating strong storms and heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next couple of days as it moves north across the Pacific.
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.
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.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten's intense convection is intensifying as it moves through the South China Sea, feeding on warm waters. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, local flooding, gusty winds, and rough surf along coastal areas in Hainan Island and Vietnam.
Tropical Storm Muifa strengthened in the western North Pacific Ocean on July 28, with highest thunderstorms located on its eastern and southern sides. A nearby high-pressure area is preventing evaporation in the storm's northern quadrant, weakening its convection.
The comet's water production in 2010 was three times less than in 1997, with a sudden increase of hydrogen signatures detected by SWAN. This observation challenges standard models of comet behavior and highlights the need for further analysis to understand the underlying causes.
Scientists with NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) have tracked Alfvén waves carrying more energy than previously thought, which could drive the intense heating of the corona and solar winds. The study confirms that these waves may be part of a mechanism supplying a huge reservoir of energy at the sun's surface.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten has been a big rainmaker across the Philippines for two days, with NASA tracking its heavy rainfall using TRMM satellite data. The storm's 3-D image revealed towering convective storms near the center of circulation, extending to heights above 15km, associated with future strengthening.
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 Depression 11W is currently located southwest of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, with maximum sustained winds near 30 knots. The storm is expected to move northwestward for the next day or two before shifting in a northeasterly direction.
Tropical Storm Nock-ten is forecast to bring heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and localized flooding to central Philippines. The storm is expected to weaken over land but re-energize once it enters the South China Sea.
Tropical Depression 11W exhibits a significant temperature contrast between its cold cloud tops (-63°F) and warm sea surface (80°F), with a difference of 143 degrees. The storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon and recurve to the northeast, posing threats to Yap State (Micronesia).
The tenth tropical depression has formed in the western North Pacific Ocean, bringing rains to the central Philippines as observed on infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite. The system is moving northwest at 9 knots and is expected to slowly intensify over the next two days, making landfall northeast of Hong Kong later this week.
A study combining satellite data from NASA and aircraft missions has provided the clearest account yet of glacial ice surges into the sea after Antarctic ice shelves collapse. The research reveals rapid elevation decreases of over 500 feet for some glaciers, with total ice loss estimated at 11.2 gigatons per year.