Articles tagged with Clouds
Researchers have discovered that different aerosol types can act as cloud condensation nuclei, affecting cloud behavior and resulting precipitation. The study highlights the importance of considering aerosol type in understanding cloud formation and precipitation interactions.
Scientists launched four rockets from Alaska to measure x-ray emissions, determine the impact of water on the upper atmosphere, and form Polar Mesospheric clouds. One rocket studied diffuse X-rays from space, while another investigated the formation and dynamics of PMCs.
Princeton University researchers found that climate models overestimate the sun's daily heat, resulting in warmer and drier conditions. The study used satellite images to calculate diurnal cycles of clouds worldwide and compared them to nine climate models, revealing a significant error in timing.
Tropical Cyclone Ava is weakening and moving southward off the coast of Madagascar, according to NASA. The cyclone's maximum sustained winds are near 35 knots (40 mph/62 kph), expected to dissipate later in the day on January 9.
Tropical Cyclone Ava has strengthened with a more well-formed storm and strong thunderstorms over central Madagascar, posing heavy rainfall risks. The storm is expected to intensify further by January 5, potentially reaching 70 knots (80 mph) before moving south of the island nation.
A University of Utah study finds Arctic clouds highly sensitive to air pollution, with particulate matter spurring cloud formation and amplifying the warming effect. The research suggests controlling airborne pollutants could ease Arctic cloud cover and slow down warming.
Tropical Storm Tembin, also known as Vinta, is bringing strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to the southern Philippines. The storm has a high potential for generating heavy rainfall due to its cold cloud tops, which are colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tropical Depression Kai-Tak was captured dissipating in the Gulf of Thailand by NASA's Aqua satellite, revealing fragmented storms and strong vertical wind shear. The system is expected to disperse due to persistent high wind shear, leading to its final dissipation on Dec. 22.
Tropical Depression Kai-Tak has weakened and elongated due to wind shear, but still harbors strong storms with extremely cold cloud top temperatures. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects the depression to maintain its strength before dissipating east of the Malay Peninsula.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak has strengthened over the South China Sea with powerful thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures reaching as low as -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to move southwesterly and approach the Malay Peninsula by Dec. 22, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
A new study in Nature Communications reveals the link between exploding stars, clouds, and climate on Earth. The research shows that atmospheric ions produced by cosmic rays accelerate the growth of aerosols into cloud condensation nuclei, influencing cloud formation and climate.
Research on turbulent broadening of cloud droplet size distributions and warm rain initiation has made significant progress in recent years. The study highlights the effects of turbulence on spectral broadening and collision-coalescence processes, with Chinese scientists playing a key role.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak is expected to bring heavy rainfall to the southern and central Philippines due to its very cold cloud top temperatures. The storm has slowed down, increasing the likelihood of inland flooding in the Eastern Visayas region.
Researchers from Carnegie Institution for Science found that climate models projecting greater amounts of warming are more likely to align with current observations. The study suggests that models simulating reduced cloud cooling in the future tend to predict greater future warming.
Tropical Storm Ockhi intensified into a typhoon with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, capable of producing heavy rainfall. The storm was predicted to track northeastward and make landfall over northwest India, undergoing extratropical transition.
Tropical Storm Dahlia formed under strong vertical wind shear, displacing its clouds north of the center. Infrared imagery revealed strongest thunderstorms north of the center, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
A new model developed by Alfonso Gañán explains the origin of various phenomena, including cloud formation, wine aroma, and tire smoke. The model predicts the critical size of gas bubbles that determine the release of tiny droplets, which can generate clouds or spread flavors in the air.
Cloud detection by satellites MODIS, CALIPSO, AIRS and CloudSAT onboard A-Train satellite constellation during severe haze episodes in winter 2015-2016 found haze impacts cloud observation. MODIS misclassified aerosol as cloud, suggesting caution when using its cloud product
Tropical Depression Kirogi made landfall in southeastern Vietnam on November 19, with NASA's Aqua satellite capturing its weakening circulation center. The storm brought maximum sustained surface winds of 20 knots near Cam Ranh Bay.
Tropical Depression 31W is developing in the South China Sea with cloud tops reaching minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating potential heavy rainfall. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects 31W to strengthen into a tropical storm by Nov 18 and make landfall in southeastern Vietnam on Nov 19.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Depression Haikui on Nov. 12 as it was fading, capturing a visible image of the storm as a weak swirl of clouds in the South China Sea. The depression had maximum sustained winds near 25 knots and was waning under strong vertical wind shear conditions.
Post-tropical cyclone Rina has become a large storm in the North Central Atlantic, with sustained winds near 45mph. It is expected to move rapidly northeastward before dissipating over Ireland.
Tropical Storm Rina has taken on a tight comma-cloud appearance, indicating it may be a sub-tropical cyclone. The storm is expected to turn north-northeast and then rapidly northeastward, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.
Scientists have found that water droplets in clouds can turn to ice more rapidly than previously predicted, with a disordered ice structure forming under certain cloud conditions. This discovery reconciles theoretical models of clouds with observations of freezing rates, helping cloud modelers understand better their observational data.
Tropical Depression 29W is characterized by disorganized storms with cold cloud top temperatures of minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Forecasters predict the depression will weaken and exit into the Andaman Sea before regaining tropical depression status.
Typhoon Damrey strengthened as it approached Vietnam with coldest cloud tops reaching minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms capable of generating heavy rainfall. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 75 knots, and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects strengthening before weakening from land interaction.
Extra-Tropical Storm Saola transitioned from a tropical storm and tracked southeast of Japan, moving north of Hokkaido on October 30. The storm was east of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, with clouds stretching into the Sea of Okhotsk and northwest Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Depression 18 strengthened into Tropical Storm Philippe, located off Florida's east coast on Oct. 29, according to NASA's Aqua satellite analysis. The storm's cold cloud tops indicate very heavy rainfall potential.
Tropical Storm Philippe developed from Tropical Depression 18, moving northeast through the Gulf of Mexico to Florida's east coast before merging with a frontal system. The remnants of Philippe dissipated over the western Atlantic Ocean, losing tropical characteristics.
NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission observed strong storms and heavy rainfall on Tropical Storm Saola, with rain rates exceeding 66 mm per hour in feeder bands. The storm showed significant structural improvement over the course of several hours, with peak intensity predicted for the following day.
Tropical Storm Selma has high potential for heavy rainfall due to very cold cloud top temperatures, posing life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. The storm is expected to make landfall in western El Salvador on Saturday night, October 28.
Tropical Storm Saola continues to be affected by wind shear as it moves northwest towards the northeast, with maximum sustained winds near 45 knots. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts Saola will strengthen into a typhoon.
Tropical Storm Saola has strengthened to a tropical storm near Guam, with NASA's Aqua satellite analyzing its cloud top temperatures in infrared light. The storm is expected to continue strengthening and become a typhoon by Oct. 25, bringing strong winds and hazardous surf.
Extra-Tropical Cyclone Lan was a typhoon that made landfall in southern Tokyo on October 21-22. NASA's satellite imagery revealed the storm's structure and cloud top temperatures, with eastern Hokkaido experiencing the coldest cloud tops and strongest storms.
Tropical Storm Lan is intensifying as it moves through the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, fueled by extremely high oceanic heat content. NASA's Aqua satellite data shows storm clouds with cloud top temperatures reaching minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, capable of producing heavy rainfall.
Tropical Depression Khanun began dissipating in the Gulf of Tonkin on Oct. 16, with NASA's Terra satellite capturing its fading circulation. The storm had weakened to 25 knots (28.7 mph) and was moving southwest at 3 knots.
Tropical Storm Lan was formed on October 15 and is moving west-northwest over open ocean. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached 35 knots (40 mph) near Palau.
Tropical Storm Ophelia was observed as a comma-like shape in NASA's infrared imagery, with cold cloud tops reaching -63°C. The storm is moving eastward at 3 mph and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane within the next 12 hours.
NASA's Aqua satellite found strongest storms in Tropical Depression 23W near northern Vietnam and northeastern Laos. Cloud top temperatures reached as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms with heavy rain capability.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured thermal images of cloud top temperatures from Post-tropical cyclone Nate, revealing coldest temperatures in storms over the Mid-Atlantic States. The storm brought moderate to heavy rainfall to the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic regions.
NASA's Aqua and Suomi NPP satellites analyzed cloud top temperatures in Hurricane Nate, revealing the strongest storms were near the center of the tropical cyclone. Temperatures as cold as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit indicate strong thunderstorms capable of heavy rain.
The NASA's Aqua satellite provided valuable temperature data to forecasters, showing the strongest storms were located in Hurricane Nate's eastern side. The storm's cloud top temperatures reached as low as minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms capable of heavy rain.
Ramon's cloud tops showed strong convection and cold temperatures, indicating a low-pressure area. The remnants are expected to dissipate later on October 5.
Tropical Depression 16 developed in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on Oct. 4, according to NASA imagery from Terra and Aqua satellites. The depression is forecast to bring heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash floods to parts of Nicaragua, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph.
Tropical Storm Maria is being affected by wind shear, causing its strongest storms to form east of the center. The storm's motion is expected to continue east-northeast, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and life-threatening surf conditions along the US east coast.
NASA's Aqua satellite detects coldest cloud top temperatures in thunderstorms south of Hurricane Lee's center, indicating a strong storm with the capability to produce heavy rainfall. The hurricane is expected to continue weakening due to increasing wind shear and cooler waters.
Tropical Storm Maria weakened to a tropical storm on Sept. 28, with NASA monitoring its trajectory. The storm showed signs of strength in infrared light, but its cloud top temperatures indicated a capacity for heavy rainfall.
Hurricane Maria appears asymmetric due to vertical wind shear, with eastern clouds receiving more precipitation than the western side. GPM radar data shows light rain showers around the eye, but stronger storms are located northeast of the center.
A NASA satellite detected a strengthening Hurricane Lee, with colder cloud top temperatures indicating stronger storms. The storm's eye cleared out and warmed, while the eyewall cloud tops cooled to -81.4 degrees Fahrenheit, suggesting heavy rainfall potential.
Tropical Depression Pilar weakened to a remnant low pressure area, with disorganized clouds and weak convection south of Baja California. The National Hurricane Center forecasted scattered showers and thunderstorms in the region, yielding heavy rain.
NASA's Aqua satellite provided infrared data on Hurricane Maria, revealing the coldest cloud tops and strongest storms were located in the eastern quadrant, which could produce heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to weaken due to cooler sea surface temperatures.
Tropical Storm Pilar formed off Mexico's coast on September 23 and continued to make landfall as a tropical depression. NASA's satellite imagery captured the storm's strong thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures, indicating potential for heavy rainfall and flooding in affected areas.
The MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite found cloud top temperatures of strong thunderstorms in Maria's quadrant as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This indicates that Maria has the capability to create heavy rain, posing a threat to coastal areas.
Hurricane Maria continues to move in a northerly direction with an asymmetric distribution of convection due to southwesterly vertical wind shear, according to NASA. The storm's eye became filled with high clouds on September 22 before clearing again on the next day.
Cyclone Jose, a large storm with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 220 miles from its center, continues to bring conditions to southern New England. The storm is expected to meander off the coast of New England for several days, with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph and gradual weakening forecasted.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of large Tropical Storm Jose south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, showing a defined center of circulation. The storm is expected to continue meandering off the coast of southeast New England for several days.
Tropical Storm Jose is a large storm with strongest storms in its northeastern part, causing dangerous ocean conditions from Bermuda to the US East coast. Infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite shows cloud top temperatures around minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating weaker storms.
Cyclone Otis has been devoid of deep convection for about 10 hours, indicating a compact swirl of low-level clouds without generating precipitation. The storm is expected to dissipate due to cool sea surface temperatures and dry air within a day.
Tropical Depression Norma has a smaller area of strong storms, with cloud top temperatures as cold as -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating potential for heavy rainfall. The depression is weakening and expected to degenerate into a remnant low on Wednesday, moving westward towards Mexico.
Hurricane Maria strengthened to a Category 5 storm due to rapid updrafts in the eyewall, creating a tall thunderstorm cell known as a 'hot tower.' The NASA GPM satellite provided 3-D imagery of the storm, while the Aqua satellite analyzed cloud top temperatures indicating strong storms capable of heavy rain.