Research on clouds and the atmosphere. Covers Southern Ocean clouds, ocean-derived aerosols, sea-ice cloud formation, and dust after impacts.
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.
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.
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 into a major hurricane with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 81.6 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating heavy rainfall potential. The storm is expected to move across the Leeward Islands and approach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Tropical Storm Talim made landfall on Kyushu, Japan, weakening to an extra-tropical storm. The NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite captured images of the storm after its transition, revealing a frontal system with clouds north and northeast of the center.
Tropical Storm Lee's development was hindered by strong westerly to northwesterly vertical wind shear, pushing its thunderstorms east of its center. The storm is expected to degenerate into a remnant low on Tuesday, Sept. 19, due to continued hostile winds and dry conditions.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured Hurricane Max making landfall and quickly weakening, with the storm degenerating into a large area of low pressure. The coldest cloud tops were found around the center of circulation and over the coast of Guerrero state, indicating storms that reached high into the troposphere and generated heavy rain.
Tropical Depression 14E has formed in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, moving towards the west-northwest at 10 mph. The depression has maximum sustained winds of near 35 mph and is forecasted to become a tropical storm Lee by later today.
Typhoon Talim's powerful storm system was observed by NASA's Terra satellite on Sept. 14, revealing a large open eye surrounded by intense thunderstorms. The storm is expected to make landfall in Japan and move northwards, prompting warnings from China and Japan.
NASA's Terra satellite and NOAA's GOES East satellite monitored the movement of Irma's remnant clouds, tracking their path across the Midwest, Pennsylvania, New England, and upstate New York. The low-pressure system associated with the remnants is expected to slide off the U.S. East coast on Friday.
The NASA-NOAA satellite captured images of Hurricane Irma's remnant clouds and rains covering a quarter of the continental US. The satellite data showed the extent of the storm's impact, with moderate to locally heavy rain expected in the Mid-South and Southeast regions.
Tropical Depression 15E is being affected by vertical wind shear, appearing nearly shapeless in NASA satellite imagery. The depression's movement towards the west is expected to continue over the next couple of days.
Scientists analyzed cloud top temperatures using NASA's Aqua satellite, finding areas as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating potential for heavy rainfall. The system is moving westward at 15 mph and may strengthen into a tropical storm by Wednesday.
Tropical Depression 21W developed just west of the Philippines, with strong thunderstorms detected around its center and eastern Philippines. Cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit indicate potential for heavy rainfall.
Researchers used a network approach to analyze the polygonal patterns in clouds, finding that they can be re-created using a simple mathematical model. This new method promises to help scientists improve the accuracy of cloud descriptions in computer models, which is crucial for climate projections.
NASA analyzed Hurricane Jose's cloud-filled eye using satellite imagery, revealing strong thunderstorms around the center and bands northeast and southeast of the storm. The satellite data showed that the eye feature persists despite being obscured in conventional imagery.
NASA satellite images reveal Hurricane Irma's structure and strengthening as it approaches southern Florida. The storm re-strengthened from a Category 3 to a Category 4 hurricane after passing over warm waters in the Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center reports maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, with higher gusts.
Hurricane Katia made landfall in Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph. The remnants of the storm were quickly dissipating over eastern Mexico, with some areas still experiencing heavy rainfall.
NASA's Aqua satellite captures clear view of Hurricane Jose's eye as it strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane. Powerful storms surround the center, capable of heavy rainfall and powerful winds of up to 150 mph.
A new study finds that ship exhaust aerosol particles alter cloud formation, leading to more lightning and intensified storms. Researchers detected nearly twice as many lightning strokes above heavily-trafficked shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
Satellite imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite revealed a clear eye with powerful bands of thunderstorms circling the eye. Cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 83.1 degrees Celsius indicated the most powerful storms in Irma, stretching high into the troposphere.
Hurricane Katia strengthened into a hurricane on Sept. 6, with powerful bands of thunderstorms around its center, and is forecast to produce heavy rainfall and potentially major hurricane strength at landfall.
Researchers found that biogenic organic emissions from soil and fallen leaves on forest floors can suppress cloud formation. The study reveals a seasonal variation of aerosol activity controlled by the mass ratio of sulfate and water-soluble organics, with increased suppression in autumn.
NASA analyzed Tropical Storm Jose using Aqua satellite data, detecting strong thunderstorms with cold cloud top temperatures indicating potential for heavy rainfall. The storm is forecast to strengthen and become a hurricane by Friday.
Tropical Depression 19W is developing just north of Luzon, Philippines, with strong thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts the depression will continue to track northwest into the South China Sea over the next couple of days.
Hurricane Lidia made landfall on the Baja California peninsula, bringing soaking rains and threatening life-threatening flash floods. The storm's strongest storms surrounded its center, with coldest cloud top temperatures exceeding minus 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Suomi NPP Satellite provided a night-time image of Hurricane Irma, revealing powerful thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures as cold as 190 kelvin. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission confirmed heavy rainfall within the hurricane, with a convective storm dropping rain at a rate of almost 6.3 inches per hour.
Tropical Depression Mawar is getting better organized with cloud top temperatures reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating stronger storms. The depression is expected to intensify and make landfall near Hong Kong on September 3.
Post-Tropical Cyclone Harvey is spreading into the Ohio Valley, bringing heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Indiana. The system's minimum central pressure is 1002 millibars, and it is expected to weaken by Saturday, Sept. 2.
Typhoon Sanvu intensified into a powerful storm with cloud top temperatures as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storm potential. NASA predicts the typhoon will continue to strengthen and become extra-tropical near the Kuril Islands before reaching Russia's coast.
Tropical Storm Lidia is producing heavy rain and life-threatening flash floods in Mexico. Infrared data shows two areas of strong thunderstorms with extremely cold cloud tops, indicating potential for intense rainfall.
Tropical Storm Sanvu is strengthening with cloud top temperatures reaching minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating high potential for heavy rain and strong winds. The storm's center is located near 27.1 degrees north latitude and 142.9 degrees east longitude, moving west-northwest at 16 knots.
NASA used infrared data to analyze temperature information and locate the strongest storms in Hurricane Harvey. The analysis revealed that the highest cloud tops indicate the coldest temperatures, pinpointing areas of intense storm activity.
Tropical Storm Sanvu has strengthened with cloud top temperatures as low as -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating potential for heavy rain. The storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon by August 31 before weakening again.
Scientists analyze infrared data to determine the strength of Tropical Cyclone Sanvu, finding coldest cloud tops near minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. This information helps predict storm intensity and potential heavy rainfall.
Tropical Storm Pakhar made landfall in southeastern China, with NASA's Suomi NPP satellite capturing an image of the storm shortly after. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 63 mph and was centered about 54 miles southwest of Hong Kong.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on Potential Tropical Cyclone 10, revealing cloud top temperatures colder than minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. This suggests the storm has the potential to generate heavy rain and become a tropical cyclone over the next two days.
Tropical Storm Harvey showed powerful storms that could produce heavy rainfall, with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storms were detected by NASA's Aqua satellite and identified areas extending from southeastern Texas into southeastern Louisiana.
NASA used its Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) satellite to analyze Hurricane Harvey's intense rainfall, revealing powerful storms dropping rain at a rate of over 2.1 inches per hour. The hurricane is expected to produce devastating and life-threatening flooding in Texas and Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds near 110 mph.
Tropical Storm Pakhar is producing powerful storms in the Philippines, with some cloud tops reaching temperatures as cold as -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is expected to strengthen before making landfall in southern China.
Tropical Depression 16W has formed in the Philippine Sea, with cloud top temperatures reaching as low as -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm before making landfall in northern Philippines and potentially strengthening further in the South China Sea.
Tropical Depression Harvey has regenerated into a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico, with NASA tracking its cloud pattern and temperature. The National Hurricane Center predicts heavy rain accumulations of 10-15 inches over Texas and Louisiana, with storms potentially exceeding -63 degrees Fahrenheit, capable of generating heav...
Satellite imagery reveals Tropical Storm Kenneth's weakening due to wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures. The storm is expected to become a remnant low-pressure area later on Aug. 23 or Thursday.
Hurricane Kenneth's strongest storms were pushed away from the center due to vertical wind shear, causing a rapid weakening of the hurricane. The National Hurricane Center expects Kenneth to weaken rapidly over the next day or two, potentially becoming post-tropical in 2-3 days.
Typhoon Hato is intensifying as it approaches mainland China, with extremely cold cloud top temperatures detected by NASA's AIRS instrument. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 65 knots, expected to strengthen further before making landfall.
A NASA infrared image shows former Tropical Storm Harvey's remnants causing heavy rainfall and gusty winds in the Yucatan Peninsula. The remnants have a high chance of reforming into a tropical cyclone over the next two to five days.
Hurricane Kenneth, a category 4 storm, has strengthened significantly in the Eastern Pacific, with maximum sustained winds reaching 130mph. The National Hurricane Center forecasts a turn toward the northwest, then north-northwest over the next couple of days.
Hurricane Gert is being affected by strong wind shear, causing it to become elongated. The storm's convective structure has rapidly deteriorated due to cold sea surface temperatures and increasing vertical wind shear.
Typhoon Banyan is experiencing strong wind shear, causing its strongest thunderstorms to be blown northeast of the center. The storm is weakening, with maximum sustained winds dropping to 75 mph, and is moving at a speed of 37 mph.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument detected very cold cloud top temperatures exceeding minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, suggesting the presence of intense thunderstorms that can generate heavy rain. The hurricane's center was located near Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia, with forecasted strengthening and weakening phases.
Typhoon Banyan's eye became visible again in satellite imagery from NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite, showing a tight concentration of strong thunderstorms around its center. The storm is expected to become a strong extra-tropical storm in the open waters of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean by August 17.
NASA provided three different views of former Hurricane Franklin, revealing powerful storms and heavy rainfall before it dissipated. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected intense feeder bands on the western side of the tropical storm dropping rain at rates over 2.8 inches per hour.
Tropical Storm Franklin strengthened after NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured its cold cloud tops on August 8. The storm is forecast to become a hurricane and make landfall in eastern Mexico as a hurricane tonight or early Thursday. Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph.
Tropical Depression Noru is weakening over Japan due to warming cloud top temperatures. The storm's strongest sides are being identified using infrared light from the AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite.