TRMM and GPM satellites calculated moderate to high rainfall rates of over 35.5 mm southwest of Typhoon Higos' center. The storm was weakening due to decreasing ocean heat and dry air, forecasted to dissipate by Feb. 13.
Global sea ice has been decreasing at an average annual rate of 13,500 square miles since 1979, with the Arctic losing more than it gains in Antarctica. The Arctic ice decrease has accelerated over time, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation and further heating.
Tropical Storm Fundi weakened due to strong vertical wind shear and cool waters. The NASA-JAXA GPM satellite captured Fundi's waning rainfall on Feb 8, just hours before its final warning was issued.
A large snowstorm affecting New England is breaking records, with Boston experiencing over 61.6 inches of snowfall, surpassing the previous record. The storm system, captured by NOAA's GOES-East satellite, is also bringing freezing rain to western Pennsylvania and Long Island.
Typhoon Higos strengthened under NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite observation, with powerful thunderstorms circling its center. The storm is expected to intensify before weakening due to increased vertical wind shear.
The NOAA DSCOVR satellite is launching to study the solar wind and forecast space weather at Earth. It will measure the movement of positively-charged particles, negatively-charged electrons, and magnetic fields to determine what heats the solar wind.
A NASA scientist is developing a new laser instrument sensitive to methane, another potent greenhouse gas. The Methane Sounder will provide high-resolution, accurate, and around-the-clock global measurements, which could help understand current trends and mitigate its effects.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured a rare triple-moon conjunction of Jupiter's largest moons Europa, Callisto, and Io. The event occurred on January 24, 2015, with the moons' orbital velocities slowing down as they approached Jupiter's cloud tops.
The NASA OMPS team detected a moderate to high aerosol index off the southwestern coast of Western Australia, indicating intense smoke from bushfires. The satellite captured data on February 4, 2015, showing a plume of smoke that reached up to 9.3, prompting emergency warnings and alerts.
A stream of clouds and moisture associated with the 'Pineapple Express' is expected to bring rain and snow to the Pacific Northwest over several days. The system is expected to produce moderate to heavy rainfall totals in coastal areas, with some regions seeing up to 10 inches of rain.
Tropical Cyclone Ola was being battered by vertical wind shear when NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared picture. The storm's cloud tops showed stronger thunderstorms, but forecasters expected it to dissipate due to increasing wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.
Agricultural fires in Indochina were detected by NASA's MODIS instrument, revealing the region's reliance on deliberate burning for land management. The practice helps enhance crops and grasses but also degrades air quality through smoke production.
Tropical Cyclone Ola's elongated shape was caused by northeasterly wind shear pushing clouds southwest of the center. The storm is expected to dissipate over the next 48 hours due to decreasing ocean heat content.
Tropical Cyclone Eunice was spinning in the Southern Indian Ocean when NASA's Terra satellite captured its transition to an extra-tropical cyclone. The storm's warm core became a cold core, characteristic of mid-latitude low pressure areas.
A severe bushfire burned in southwestern Australia, covering an area of 70 square miles. Residents were forced to evacuate due to the high risk of fire spreading.
Tropical Cyclone Eunice reached Category 5 status, with the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite capturing intense rainfall and thunderstorms. NASA's RapidScat instrument gathered wind speed data, revealing the strongest winds were on the storm's southwestern quadrant.
Tropical Cyclone Eunice is still churning in the South Indian Ocean, tracking south-southeastward at 10 knots. Its intensity has increased to 115 knots with a microwave eye 5 nautical miles across.
Diamondra has moved south-southeastward at 5 kph and is downgraded to a subtropical cyclone. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center will continue to monitor the storm for signs of regeneration.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission's Core Observatory captured satellite images of the nor'easter storm system, revealing intense bands of snowfall and heavy rainfall rates. The storm brought blizzard conditions to parts of New England, with up to 30 inches of snow falling in some areas.
NASA's MODIS instrument captured images of Tropical Cyclone Diamondra and Eunice, combining them to create a single panorama. The storms are intensifying, with Cyclone Eunice expected to peak at 125 knots (143.8 mph) before weakening.
The ISS-RapidScat instrument provided forecasters with wind speed data on the hurricane-force nor'easter. The storm brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to the Northeast region, with sustained winds reaching up to 35 meters per second (78.2 mph/126 kph).
A NASA engineer is developing a low-cost, off-the-shelf solution to track stars during the day, enabling science operations through the day. The precision attitude sensor uses near-infrared wavelength bands and cameras with filtering capabilities to process data in real-time.
Astronauts on ISS captured stunning night image of Cyclone Bansi in January 2015, revealing brilliant lightning around its eye. The cyclone reached category 4 strength before weakening into an extra-tropical system.
Tropical Cyclone Diamondra formed on January 26 and strengthened to 45 knots by January 27, with heavy rainfall detected east of its center. The storm is expected to strengthen further before weakening in cooler waters and encountering strong vertical wind shear.
The Blizzard of 2015 was captured by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite, revealing the storm near peak intensity over New York through Boston Metropolitan areas. The satellite also showed the clouds associated with the nor'easter blanketing New England.
A strong nor'easter is developing in the Atlantic Ocean and will bring snowfall of 1-3 feet or more to parts of the Northeast. The storm system was captured in a NASA movie of NOAA's GOES-East satellite imagery, showing its progression from January 24 through 26.
DSCOVR will observe the sun, tracking Coronal Mass Ejections that can affect power grids and communications systems. The satellite will also study the Earth from its unique L1 orbit, providing multi-spectral images and radiation measurements.
Tropical Cyclone Niko was spotted moving southeast through the Society Islands by NASA's Aqua satellite on January 21. The storm remains compact but strengthening, with maximum sustained winds near 50 knots on January 22.
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission combined with satellite data revealed an area of maximum rainfall centered over Samar, resulting in extreme totals greater than 600mm. The analysis also found that much of the heavy rainfall from Mekkhala fell over the same area devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
GOES-West satellite captured the birth of Tropical Cyclone Niko, with maximum sustained winds near 45 knots. The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane after passing Tahiti and entering the open waters of the South Pacific Ocean.
The NISTAR instrument on NOAA's DSCOVR spacecraft will measure the Earth's radiation budget by monitoring absolute irradiance over the entire sunlit face of the planet. This information can be used to understand the effects of human activities and natural phenomena on climate change.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi reached a Category 4 status, stirring up ocean sediment around the Cargados Carajos Shoals. NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of the sediment on January 19, showcasing the storm's powerful winds.
Tropical Storm Mekkhala made landfall in the Philippines and tracked north, weakening to a remnant circulation northeast of the islands. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured images of the storm's remnants on January 18 and 20, showing an open circulation center with some clouds and no precipitation.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi's maximum sustained winds increased to 130 knots (149.6 mph) on January 15, making it a Category 4 storm. The eye decreased in size from 46 nautical miles wide to 32 nautical miles wide as the storm strengthened.
Tropical Storm Chedza rapidly intensified from a tropical low pressure area to a tropical storm on January 16 near Madagascar's southwestern coast. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 50 knots (57.5 mph/92.6 kph) with a defined low-level circulation center and deep convective banding.
The study reveals that 2014 was the warmest year globally since 1880, with a temperature increase of about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the past century.
Tropical Storm Mekkhala's heaviest precipitation was found on its western side, with powerful convective thunderstorms dropping rain at over 2.8 inches per hour. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 57.4 mph on January 16, with public storm warning signals raised in the Philippines.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi's eye grew from 12 nautical miles to 46 nautical miles wide after re-strengthening to a Category 4 hurricane on January 15. The storm is expected to strengthen further and reach Category 5 status before weakening again over the Southern Indian Ocean.
The NASA GPM satellite captured detailed rainfall data of Tropical Storm Mekkhala on January 14, revealing intense convective storms near its center. The storm strengthened into a tropical storm over the western quadrant, with moderate vertical wind shear.
The two satellites measured significant rainfall in Tropical Depression Mekkhala, indicating the storm's intensification on January 13. The depression strengthened as it headed towards the Philippines, with maximum sustained winds near 30 knots and a circulation that became slightly better defined.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Bansi, revealing clouds wrapping into its eye. Forecasters expect the storm to re-strengthen and peak at 115 knots.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi is a powerful Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 149.6 mph, forecast to intensify into a Category 5 storm before weakening. The cyclone is moving northeast at 4.6 mph and expected to pass north of Mauritius.
A mid-level M5.6-class solar flare occurred on January 12, 2015, emitting powerful bursts of radiation. The flare's intense energy affected Earth's atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
The first Northwestern Pacific tropical depression has formed, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall to the region. NASA's TRMM satellite observed two large bands of thunderstorms with rainfall rates of 1 inch per hour near the storm's center.
The GOES-R satellite will provide enhanced hurricane track and intensity forecasts, increased severe weather warning lead time, and improved solar flare warnings. The new satellite will also offer more frequent images of weather patterns and severe storms, contributing to more accurate and reliable weather forecasts.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi has triggered warnings for Mauritius and is expected to continue intensifying. The storm strengthened from a minimal tropical storm into a major hurricane (Category 3) with maximum sustained winds near 100 knots (115.1 mph/185.2 kph).
The ISS-RapidScat instrument measured high wind speeds off the Atlantic Ocean near the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Wind chills were reported near zero in several cities, posing a risk of frostbite, with temperatures 20-25 degrees below average.
Astronomers have developed a comprehensive picture of Eta Carinae, including Hubble Space Telescope images showing ionized gas racing away from the star at high speeds. New 3-D models reveal features of the stars' interactions, including spine-like protrusions in the gas flow along the edges of a spiral cavity.
The Deep Space Climate Observatory will capture the entire sunlit side of Earth in one image, providing unprecedented atmospheric data and insights into global weather patterns. The launch marks a significant improvement in solar wind speed measurement and complement NASA's larger missions.
A NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center satellite image on January 7, 2015, revealed a blanket of northern snow and lake-effect snow from the Great Lakes. The cold front brought Arctic air as far south as Florida and stretched back over the Gulf of Mexico.