Numerous agricultural fires are burning in Eastern Europe, primarily in Ukraine. These fires were likely intentionally set to manage land and return nutrients to the soil, but also produce smoke that degrades air quality.
Hurricane Edouard's minimum central pressure was nearly as low as when it was a category 3 hurricane. The storm is expected to weaken and become post-tropical before winding up west of the Azores in a few days.
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong developed over central Philippines with powerful thunderstorms spiraling around its southwestern quadrant. NASA predicts the storm may make landfall in Kyushu, Japan by September 23, posing a threat to the region.
Hurricane Edouard's maximum sustained winds near 90 mph, with life-threatening rip current conditions expected along the US East Coast. The storm is forecast to rapidly weaken on Sept. 18, dropping in intensity to a tropical storm.
The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) mission has captured a unique perspective on an X-class solar flare, highlighting the transition region and corona. The observations provide insight into the dynamics of these powerful flares, which can have significant effects on Earth's magnetic field and radiation environment.
Astronomers used Hubble and ground observations to find the M60-UCD1 dwarf galaxy containing a massive black hole. The discovery suggests compact galaxies may be remnants of larger galaxies torn apart during collisions.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected powerful thunderstorms around Tropical Storm Polo's center, indicating strengthening conditions. Rainfall totals of 5-10 inches expected over coastal areas in Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco states, with life-threatening flash-floods and mudslides possible.
Tropical Storm Odile is generating strong thunderstorms with heavy rainfall over northern Mexico and the southwestern US. Rainfall rates from TRMM satellite measurements reached almost 130 mm per hour northeast of the storm's center.
NASA's Terra satellite captured images of Tropical Storm Kalmaegi weakening over Vietnam after making landfall on September 17. The storm caused significant damage to homes, crops, and trees in the northern Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh.
The King Fire has spread rapidly through the Pollock Pines community, fueled by hot, dry conditions and strong winds. Over 1,600 homes are currently threatened as the fire continues to grow, with mandatory evacuation orders in place for residents.
Tropical Storm Polo is intensifying with strong thunderstorms and high cloud top temperatures near -63F/-53C, potentially generating heavy rain. The storm's center was located near latitude 12.8 north and longitude 99.4 west, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and a predicted strengthening into a hurricane by Thursday.
Scientists are using NASA's Global Hawk aircraft and satellites to study the structure of Hurricane Edouard, including its cloud tops and aerosol content. The mission aims to understand the storm's potential for heavy rainfall and track its movement.
Smoke from the Selway Complex and Johnson Bar fires is wafting into the Selway River valley, as detected by NASA's MODIS satellite on September 15, 2014. The fires, ignited by lightning strikes between August 10 and August 25, have spread to over 9,600 acres.
The NASA HS3 mission is studying the changing profile of the atmosphere to learn more about how hurricanes form and strengthen. The CPL instrument provides a two-dimensional picture of cloud and aerosols, allowing scientists to discriminate between different types of particles and improve hurricane models.
Tropical Storm Odile continues to affect the US Southwest, bringing heavy rainfall and flash flood watches. The storm is predicted to weaken and potentially become a tropical depression by early Wednesday.
A prolonged California fire season has been exacerbated by hot conditions and a state-wide drought, with fires spreading rapidly across the state. Over 113,000 acres have been affected, with multiple fires still burning out of control.
The 36 Pit Fire in Oregon began on September 13, 2014 and is still under investigation. Firefighters have made progress in establishing an anchor point and constructing a fireline on the West and North sides of the fire.
Typhoon Kalmaegi's center was spotted by NASA's Aqua satellite near northern Hainan Island, China. The storm is making landfall in Northern Vietnam, generating very rough surf and ocean swells up to 22 feet.
The HS3 mission gathered data on Hurricane Cristobal as it became an extra-tropical storm, revealing strong winds and dry air moving eastward across the western side of the storm. The data showed a shift in the strongest winds outward from the center compared to earlier stages in the storm's lifecycle.
A NASA satellite observed the remnants of Tropical Depression 16-E being drawn into Hurricane Odile. The tropical depression had lost its well-defined circulation and was moving east-northeast at 13 mph when it was absorbed by the hurricane.
NASA's Terra satellite and NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured images of Tropical Storm Edouard as it grew into a Category 2 hurricane. The storm consolidated with its bands of thunderstorms becoming more tightly wrapped around the eye, which became visible on and off during September 14.
Typhoon Kalmaegi crossed northern Luzon, Philippines and entered the South China Sea, forming a giant whirlpool of clouds. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 75mph, causing waves up to 22 feet in the sea.
Hurricane Odile made landfall near Cabo San Lucas with winds of up to 110 knots, dropping rain at a rate of over 188.4 mm per hour. The storm's weakening system will continue to bring torrential rainfall and flash floods to the Baja California Peninsula.
Tropical Storm Kalmaegi intensified as NASA's Aqua satellite captured its visible image approaching the Philippines. The storm is expected to strengthen over the next couple of days and potentially become a typhoon by September 13.
The TRMM satellite detected powerful thunderstorms near Odile's center, dropping rain at a rate of over 196 mm/h. The combined data from TRMM and Aqua satellites showed the coldest cloud tops in storms circling Odile's center, with temperatures as low as -63F/-53C.
The Selway complex of fires has grown to 1,659 fires, mostly contained. The Johnson Bar fire, sparked by a lightning strike, has affected 8,867 acres and is currently 55% contained. Warmer weather may increase fire activity.
The Suomi NPP satellite captured high-resolution infrared images of Tropical Storm Edouard, revealing very high thunderstorms and cold cloud top temperatures. The storm is moving west-northwest at 16 mph, with forecasters predicting it may become a hurricane by September 15.
Tropical Depression 16E is forecasted to dissipate and be absorbed by Tropical Storm Odile due to unfavorable influence of the larger storm. The depression is currently drifting northwest at 2 mph and will eventually turn east-southeast as it gets caught up in Odile's circulation.
New observations from NASA's Venus Express mission show giant holes in Venus' ionosphere, suggesting a more complex magnetic environment. The findings provide additional clues to understanding Venus' atmosphere and its interactions with the solar wind.
Tropical Depression 6 formed in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean with a well-defined circulation and organized convective banding near the center. The depression has maximum sustained winds near 35 mph and is expected to move northwest or west-northwest over the next couple of days.
Simulations by NASA researchers found that atmospheric gases like ozone, oxygen, and methane can be produced non-biologically, challenging the detection of life. However, combinations of these gases remain strong biosignatures, suggesting their presence is likely linked to biological activity.
A powerful solar flare was detected by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on Sept. 10, 2014, peaking at X1.6 intensity. The flare disturbed the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected Tropical Depression 15-E on September 10, which strengthened into Tropical Storm Odile shortly after. The storm is expected to create swells and rough surf along Mexico's southwestern coast over the next day or two.
Post-tropical storm Norbert generated drenching thunderstorms over Arizona, with TRMM satellite data showing rainfall rates of over 2 inches per hour. The moisture from Norbert caused flooding over inland areas of southern California and led to a state of emergency in Arizona.
The 790 Fire in Oregon affects over 3,000 acres with a 54% containment rate, posing risks to natural resources like the Northern Spotted Owl habitat. The Happy Camp Fire Complex in California spans 105,000 acres, with an estimated cost of $60.7 million to fight.
Tropical Storm Fengshen is transitioning into an extra-tropical storm, with its clouds and winds extending northeast of the center. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts it will move east-northeasterly over open waters for several days.
Storms have caused massive fires in Northern California's Happy Camp Complex, affecting over 99,200 acres. The fire is at 30% containment, with multiple spot fires occurring across the region.
Tropical Depression 14W made landfall in southeastern China on September 8 after forming in the South China Sea. NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data showing a powerful storm with cold cloud top temperatures near -63F/-52C.
Post-tropical cyclone Norbert is weakening and losing strength, but still causing rough surf along the Baja California coast. The storm's remnants are expected to spread heavy rains and life-threatening flash flooding across northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.
The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) will provide critical measurements on the International Space Station, demonstrating new technology and proving inexpensive missions can make accurate climate predictions. The instrument will track aerosols over population centers and reveal shifts in global climate.
Tropical Storm Fengshen, approximately as long as Japan's main island, skitters the east coast with strong thunderstorms. The storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon and undergo extra-tropical transitioning as it moves away from Japan.
The TRMM satellite calculated heavy rainfall generated by Hurricane Norbert and Tropical Storm Dolly. Rainfall totals were greater than 300 mm, affecting the open waters of the Pacific Ocean and near Mexico's western and Gulf coasts.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured remnants of Tropical Depression Dolly over northeastern Mexico on Sept. 3, showing a band of thunderstorms spiraling over the Texas/Mexico border. The TRMM satellite detected moderate to heavy rainfall in southern Texas due to low-to-mid-level moisture from Dolly's remnants.
Hurricane Norbert's visible bands of thunderstorms spiraled into the center in NASA satellite imagery on September 4, but lost some organization due to easterly vertical wind shear. The hurricane is forecast to track parallel along the coast of Baja California for the next couple of days.
Brightpoints provide a new way to track magnetic field evolution and material flow inside the sun. Researchers found that bands of these markers moved steadily toward the equator over time, along the same path as sunspots.
NASA's HS3 hurricane mission and Terra satellite captured detailed data on Tropical Storm Dolly before it made landfall in eastern Mexico. The data revealed Dolly's strongest thunderstorms were around its center of circulation, indicating a more organized storm than Norbert.
Tropical Storm Norbert is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to Mexico's west coast, with tropical storm conditions forecast for La Paz to Santa Fe by Thursday night. The storm is currently located near the southern tip of Baja California and is moving northwestward at 8 mph.
Tropical Storm Dolly, a storm named after the famous country singer, is making its second landfall in Mexico due to the revolving list of hurricane names. NASA's satellite data shows the storm is expected to cause heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
Hurricane Cristobal is racing through the North Atlantic, losing its tropical characteristics. The storm is expected to remain a powerful extra-tropical cyclone over the region until Sunday.
Hurricane Marie has transitioned into a post-tropical storm, losing organized deep convection and thunderstorm development. The animation from NASA's GOES Project shows the storm's structure being blown apart, with clouds and showers north of the center.