Scientists assessed the state of space weather research, including geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) that can disrupt power systems, railroads, and pipelines. GICs can cause temporary blackouts and mis-operation of railway signaling systems.
Tropical Storm Maarutha's intense rainbands were detected by the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, showing rainfall rates of over 134 mm per hour near its center. The satellite imagery provided valuable insights into the cyclone's powerful convective storms, which reached altitudes of over 10.9 miles.
Remnants of former Tropical Cyclone 02W lingered in the South China Sea as NASA's Aqua satellite captured visible images of clouds and flaring convection. The system is expected to dissipate due to dry air and unfavorable conditions for re-intensification.
A team of NASA scientists is using LISA Pathfinder's advanced technology to map the distribution of tiny dust particles in space. By analyzing the spacecraft's response to microscopic dust impacts, they aim to refine models used in various studies, including planet formation and impact risks for spacecraft.
A NASA-funded study has identified four glaciers in West Greenland that are most susceptible to thinning due to their shape. These glaciers, including Rink Isbrae and Jakobshavn Isbrae, have already been losing mass and are expected to contribute significantly to future sea level rise.
Tropical Cyclone Maarutha formed quickly and strengthened into a tropical storm in the Northern Indian Ocean. The storm made landfall in Burma (Myanmar) on April 16, dropping high rainfall totals in south central Myanmar. Remnants of the cyclone were dissipating over land by April 17.
NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone 02W's remnants in the South China Sea on April 17, revealing an elongated area of clouds. The remnant low pressure area weakened after passing over Eastern Visayas and the Philippines, with wind shear preventing re-intensification.
Tropical Depression 02W is expected to make landfall along the east coast of eastern Visayas on April 15, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall. The depression has already tracked west-northwestward and is forecasted to continue in that direction before dissipating over central Philippines.
Astronomers study starburst galaxies to understand their evolution. Hubble's observations of NGC 4536 reveal high rates of star formation driven by gas supply, which fuels the creation of colorful ionized hydrogen clouds.
Two extra-tropical cyclones caused widespread flooding in New Zealand, with Cyclone Cook adding to the heavy rainfall. IMERG data shows that over 80 mm of rain fell in many areas, with some receiving heavy downpours, and thousands of residents were evacuated due to extreme weather.
In Kansas, controlled burns by farmers to manage land produce smoke with various chemicals and particles, posing an issue for air quality. Air quality alerts are in place due to the drift of smoke from burning grass.
New night lights maps offer daily, high-definition views of Earth at night, allowing for real-time monitoring of human activities, power outages, and environmental changes. The data can aid short-term weather forecasting, disaster response, and research on urbanization and economic changes.
Tropical Cyclone Cook was pushed apart by strong vertical wind shear, according to NASA's Aqua satellite imagery. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 45 knots as it transitioned into an extra-tropical cyclone.
Tropical Cyclone Cook formed in the Southern Pacific Ocean and made landfall on April 10 near central New Caledonia. The storm's center was surrounded by powerful thunderstorms with a cloud-filled eye, and its winds were measured at 70 knots (80.5 mph) on April 11.
Tropical Cyclone Ernie was battered by strong vertical wind shear, with most clouds and thunderstorms pushed east and southeast of its center. The storm's weakening trend accelerated after making landfall in Western Australia, ultimately leading to its dissipation.
The study detects iron, magnesium, and sodium ions in the Martian upper atmosphere, indicating a permanent presence of metal ions. The team believes that all solar system planets with substantial atmospheres likely have metal ions.
Tropical Cyclone Ernie strengthened into a hurricane with an eye forming in visible images captured by NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm was located near Western Australia, moving south at 5 knots with maximum sustained winds of 109 mph.
Cyclone 14P is being blown apart by strong westerly wind shear, weakening its maximum sustained winds and pushing strongest storms east of the center. Infrared light imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite reveals cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Hubble Space Telescope captured the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, at unprecedented resolution. The telescope revealed exquisite details in Jupiter's atmosphere, including small-scale storm systems and wind patterns that reach speeds of up to 400 miles per hour.
Tropical Cyclone 15S has the capability to produce heavy rainfall due to its extremely low cloud top temperatures, detected by NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm is forecasted to dissipate in three days, but will continue tracking south-southwestward around an elongated area of subtropical high pressure.
Tropical Cyclone 14P developed over the Southern Pacific Ocean, according to data from NASA's Aqua satellite. The storm showed strongest thunderstorms on one side of its circulation due to wind shear, and had cloud top temperatures as cold as -70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heavy rainfall in Mocoa, Colombia triggered devastating flooding and mudslides that killed over 250 people. NASA's GPM mission provided crucial data on precipitation from its orbit, helping estimate the amount of rain that fell near the affected area.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of three mid-level solar flares on April 2-3, 2017. The flares had M-class intensities, with the largest being an M5.8 flare.
NASA's MMS mission provides direct observation of kinetic Alfvén waves, revealing unexpected small-scale complexities and a higher rate of particle trapping than expected. The findings have implications for nuclear fusion technology and our understanding of the sun's solar wind.
The remnant clouds and showers associated with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie were slowly moving off the coasts of Queensland and New South Wales. Heavy rainfall generated by Debbie continues to trigger warnings for rivers, with several flood warnings still in effect.
Researchers discovered Rossby waves on the sun, similar to jet streams on Earth, which may allow for long-term space weather forecasting. The waves drive solar flares and coronal mass ejections, enabling predictions of flare occurrences.
Astronomers identify sun-like star associated with a Type Ia supernova, sparking investigation into its potential role in the white dwarf's demise. Further studies are needed to confirm if this star is indeed the culprit behind a white dwarf's fiery explosion.
NASA analyzed heavy rainfall from ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie using the Terra satellite, finding totals exceeded 500 mm (~ 20 inches) along parts of its track. Rainfall intensities dropped rapidly as the storm moved over land, with the most extreme falls recorded along the coast where it made landfall.
NASA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie over Queensland on March 29, 2017. The system's clouds stretched from Townsville to Brisbane along the coast, with heavy rainfall expected in central and southeastern regions.
A new study reveals that 11% of global non-renewable groundwater is used to produce internationally traded crops, with countries such as Pakistan, the US, and India being major exporters. This unsustainable practice poses a risk to food security and long-term sustainability.
The LEMNOS system will provide speeds of at least 80 megabytes per second, far surpassing current systems that send 51 kilobytes of data per second. This enables high-definition video transmission and real-time scientific data exchange.
Tropical Cyclone Debbie made landfall in Queensland bringing heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds. NASA's satellite imagery showed a large area of cloud top temperatures in thunderstorms around the storm's eye, indicating potential for heavy rainfall.
The James Webb Space Telescope has completed its acoustic and vibration tests, ensuring it can withstand launch vibrations and maintain functionality in space. The telescope was subjected to simulated forces of up to 100 times per second using a new vibration test system.
The Van Allen Probes detected an increase in oxygen particles speeding around Earth's dayside after a geomagnetic storm, shedding light on particle origins. The unique double observations help untangle the complex workings of Earth's magnetic environment.
Tropical Cyclone Debbie intensified into a powerful hurricane affecting eastern Queensland's coast, with NASA capturing its eye and strongest storms on March 27, 2017. The storm is forecast to make landfall between Ayr and Cape Hillsborough, prompting severe warnings for residents.
NASA's Aqua satellite captures last burst of strength from Tropical Cyclone Caleb before it weakens and dissipates. The storm had strong thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures as cold as -56.6 degrees Celsius.
Tropical Cyclone Debbie has formed and strengthened in the Southern Pacific Ocean, threatening eastern Queensland, Australia. Powerful thunderstorms have developed around the center of circulation, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong uplift and heavy rain potential.
Tropical cyclone Caleb formed on March 23 with heaviest precipitation near its western side, dropping rain at nearly 84 mm/h. The system will slow and weaken due to increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures over the next 3 days.
A low-pressure system is consolidating and strengthening in the Coral Sea, South Pacific Ocean, with sustained winds near its center. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology expects conditions to favor intensification as it approaches the north Queensland coast.
The OSIRIS-REx mission successfully tested its asteroid search instruments, detecting multiple Main Belt asteroids two magnitudes fainter than expected. The spacecraft's MapCam imager performed flawlessly, demonstrating improved imaging capabilities that will aid in avoiding natural satellites around target asteroid Bennu.
Heavy rainfall in Peru led to extensive flooding, landslides, and loss of life. NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission provided data on precipitation rates and totals, revealing storms dropping heavy rain at rates of over 137 mm per hour.
During the three-month campaign, scientists will validate GOES-16's advanced instruments using measurements from planes, ground-based sensors, unmanned aircraft systems, the International Space Station, and other sources. The goal is to ensure precise data for weather forecasting, severe storm warnings, and space weather predictions.
Astronomers discovered a supermassive black hole weighing over 1 billion suns that was propelled out of the center of a distant galaxy due to gravitational wave energy. The estimated equivalent energy is 100 million supernovas, and the black hole travels at speeds of up to 4.7 million miles per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Caleb has formed east of Cocos Island, with NASA's Suomi NPP and Aqua satellites gathering data on the storm. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts Caleb will strengthen briefly before turning west and dissipating in five days.
Scientists at NASA and NSIDC report record low wintertime maximum extent of Arctic sea ice on March 7, reaching 5.57 million square miles. In Antarctica, sea ice minimum extent fell to 815,000 square miles in February, its lowest level since satellites began measuring in 1979.
NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aims to establish a high-speed internet in space, enabling faster data rates and smaller communication systems. The technology has the potential to revolutionize space communications for missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
Raven's autonomous rendezvous capability relies on a hybrid computing system developed by NASA, which combines visible, infrared, and lidar sensors with machine-vision algorithms. The system uses SpaceCube processors to analyze data and make real-time decisions.
New NASA research on Mars volcano Arsia Mons suggests its peak volcanic activity occurred around 150 million years ago, similar to the time of Earth's Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that led to the demise of dinosaurs. The study provides valuable insights into the Red Planet's history and interior structure.
Astronomers have mapped the location of optical and ultraviolet light emitted by a star torn apart by a black hole. The team used Swift satellite observations to track the changes in brightness of various wavelengths, finding that they originated from elliptical streams of orbiting matter crashing into each other.
GPM detected intense rainfall in the remnant low pressure area of ex-Tropical Cyclone 11S, with rain rates reaching over 8 inches in some areas. The satellite's radar data showed storm tops reaching heights above 13 km, indicating a strong and dynamic system.