Research on clouds and the atmosphere. Covers Southern Ocean clouds, ocean-derived aerosols, sea-ice cloud formation, and dust after impacts.
Tropical Storm Sandra formed on Nov. 24 and strengthened into a late-season hurricane, with cloud top temperatures indicating powerful thunderstorms. The storm is forecast to turn northward and make landfall along Mexico's west coast by Friday, Nov. 27 or early Saturday
Tropical Storm Annabelle formed on Nov. 21 with NASA's Terra satellite capturing its development, intensified winds reaching up to 67 mph/108 kph. The storm weakened on Nov. 23 as cloud tops warmed, indicating a decrease in convection and tropospheric height.
Scientists have detected a monstrous new cloud of frozen compounds in the moon's low- to mid-stratosphere, peaking at an altitude of about 124 miles. This discovery provides insight into the nature and severity of Titan's winter, which is expected to be harsher than its northern counterpart.
Tropical Storm Kate is moving northeastward at 21 mph with maximum sustained winds near 70 mph, forecast to become a hurricane by night. The storm's center was located near latitude 30.2 North, longitude 74.7 West, 350 miles south of Cape Hatteras and 600 miles west of Bermuda.
NASA is conducting a field campaign in the Pacific Northwest to verify rainfall and snowfall observations made by the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite mission. The region's frequent winter rain and snowfall make it an ideal location for studying precipitation patterns.
Tropical Cyclone Megh is intensifying as it approaches Socotra Island, Yemen, with forecasters predicting hurricane-strength winds before landfall. The storm's trajectory may be impacted by cooler waters and increasing wind shear in the Gulf of Aden.
A study by University of Miami researchers found a weakening of the Walker circulation due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, leading to changes in rainfall patterns. The analysis used historical cloud cover observations as a proxy for wind velocity in climate models.
Tropical Cyclone Chapala strengthened into a hurricane on October 29 after developing an eye feature, with maximum sustained winds reaching 65 knots (75 mph). The storm is expected to intensify and make landfall in northeast Yemen on November 2 as it passes Socotra island.
NASA's RapidScat instrument captured windy conditions in the Mid-Atlantic region, fueled by remnant moisture from Hurricane Patricia and Gulf of Mexico moisture. The National Weather Service predicted widespread rainfall across the eastern third of the US, with heaviest amounts expected along the I-95 corridor.
NASA's RapidScat detected moderately high winds over a broad area in the Gulf of Mexico, with sustained winds near 40 mph/64 kph, just south of Louisiana. The hybrid system's cloud cover extended from Florida to Louisiana and into the Mid-Atlantic States.
Hurricane Patricia intensified rapidly off Mexico's southwestern coast, breaking records for the strongest Eastern North Pacific hurricane. NASA satellites and instruments tracked its rapid intensification, revealing frigid cloud top temperatures that enabled heavy rainfall.
Typhoon Champi remained a powerful storm after passing over NASA's GPM satellite on October 21, 2015. The storm displayed a large eye with heavy rainfall and high winds near 86mph.
Typhoon Champi generated heavy rainfall with rain rates exceeding 114.8 mm/h due to GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar. The storm's strongest winds were found in its northern quadrant, with winds reaching 89.4 mph.
Tropical Depression 19E continues to move through the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with poorly organized cloud patterns and a small area of deep convection. The depression is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm later this week.
Tropical Depression 19E is showing signs of organization in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with a large area of convection near its center. The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm later today and a hurricane over the weekend.
Tropical Depression Nora was affected by strong southwesterly vertical wind shear, pushing clouds and showers northeast of the center. The Suomi NPP satellite revealed most thunderstorms were being pushed away from the center due to the high wind shear.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captures infrared imagery of Tropical Storm Nora, revealing warming cloud top temperatures indicating less uplift in the air and a weaker storm. The storm is expected to continue moving northwestward at 7 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 45 mph.
The remnants of Ex-Typhoon Choi-wan continued to generate rainy and windy weather over southeastern Russia as revealed by NASA's infrared satellite image. Cloud top temperatures near -36F/-38.1C were detected in the region, indicating strong uplift and stronger storm behavior.
The remnants of former Hurricane Oho are bringing strong southeasterly winds, damaging gusts, and heavy rain to western Canada and Washington state. Weather alerts have been issued for areas such as British Columbia, Haida Gwaii, and western Washington.
Choi-Wan, a powerful storm, lost its tropical characteristics and became an extra-tropical cyclone as it moved over cooler waters near the Kuril Islands. The storm maintained hurricane-force winds, with maximum sustained winds near 60 knots (69 mph/111.1 kph), while moving north at 38 knots (44.8 mph/72.2 kph) towards Japan.
Hurricane Joaquin's infrared data revealed the storm was transitioning to a post-tropical cyclone due to weaker storms and less uplift in the air. The system lacked sufficient organized deep convection to qualify as a tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Oho appears to have extremely long arms in imagery from NOAA's GOES-West satellite, drawing moisture northeast along a stationary front to the storm's northeast. The storm is weakening due to cooler waters and warming cloud tops indicating less uplift in the air.
NASA used AIRS instrument to track Hurricane Joaquin's movement from October 1-6, showing its intense rainfall and flooding in South Carolina. The storm's cloud tops reached temperatures as low as -81F/-63C/210K, producing heavy rain.
Typhoon Choi-wan strengthened earlier this month before showing signs of weakening due to northerly winds, currently situated approximately 512 nautical miles east of Iwo To island
NASA and NOAA satellites tracked Hurricane Joaquin's movement through the northern Atlantic, revealing powerful thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures of -63F/-53C. Swells generated by the storm will continue to affect Bermuda and the US Northeast coast.
Hurricane Oho intensified into a hurricane on October 6, with extremely cold cloud top temperatures of -63F (-53C), indicating powerful storms capable of generating heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to turn towards the northeast and speed up late in the day.
Tropical storm Choi-Wan is intensifying with heavy rainmaking storms and cold cloud tops reaching -63F/-53C. The storm is forecast to strengthen into a typhoon before turning north.
Researchers used holographic imaging to analyze cloud mixing behavior, revealing clear boundaries between wet and dry air. The findings challenge current computer models and may enhance weather predictions by providing more accurate insights into cloud interactions.
NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured infrared data on October 5, revealing powerful thunderstorms with cold cloud tops near Hurricane Joaquin. The storm maintained its comma shape as it brought heavy rains and strong winds to Bermuda.
Tropical Depression 8C formed near Hawaii on October 3 and quickly weakened to a post-tropical cyclone. The GOES-West satellite captured its final image as it tracked west through the Central Pacific Ocean before dissipating.
Tropical Depression Choi-wan formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean with maximum sustained winds near 30 knots, moving west-northwest. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts intensification to typhoon strength over the next three days.
Hurricane Joaquin strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane on October 1, with satellite imagery showing powerful thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures over -63F. The National Hurricane Center forecasted the storm's track, predicting it will impact the central Bahamas and possibly Long Island, New York.
NASA satellites tracked Hurricane Joaquin's internal precipitation structure and heavy rainfall patterns, providing valuable data for forecasters. The storm reached Category 3 status on October 1, with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph and a minimum central pressure of 942 millibars.
Researchers used holography to analyze cloud mixing, finding that wet and dry air form sharp boundaries affecting sunlight penetration and heat trapping. This discovery challenges base assumptions in computer models, influencing predictions for weather and climate change.
Hurricane Joaquin strengthened into a hurricane after NASA satellites gathered data on its heavy rainfall and cloud height. The Global Precipitation Measurement satellite captured images of the storm's intense rain and convective towers, indicating its potential for intensification.
Tropical Depression 11 strengthened into Tropical Storm Joaquin despite experiencing vertical wind shear, according to NASA's Aqua satellite data. The storm's elongated shape is attributed to the strong winds, but research suggests that high-level storms can generate heavy rain and strengthen.
The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Niala were captured in a NASA infrared satellite image taken on September 29, 2015. The storm had ceased to qualify as a tropical cyclone by the time it was located approximately 405 miles south of Honolulu, Hawaii and moving west-northwest.
A new Atlantic tropical depression formed on September 28, with cloud top temperatures reaching -63 Fahrenheit/-53 Celsius, indicating potential heavy rainfall. The National Hurricane Center forecasts the depression to strengthen into a tropical storm later in the day.
Tropical Storm Niala formed after experiencing wind shear, according to NASA's Aqua satellite data. The storm moved through warm waters and intensified into a tropical depression before strengthening into a tropical storm.
Tropical Storm Ida is a somewhat shapeless system with wind shear affecting its structure. The storm is moving eastward and expected to turn northward by tonight, followed by northwestward motion.
Tropical Storm Ida's wind shear is pushing clouds and strongest storms to the east and northeast of its center, with coldest cloud tops reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm remains over open ocean, with forecasters predicting a slow eastward motion followed by a turn towards the north later on September 24.
The Suomi NPP satellite observed a large and elongated circulation of Tropical Storm Dujuan, with cloud top temperatures as cold as -63F/-53C indicating strong storms. The storm is expected to intensify and reach peak winds of 110 knots on September 27-28.
The remnants of Tropical Depression 16E have moved over the U.S. Southwest, bringing light to moderate rain and flash flood watches in Arizona and New Mexico.
Tropical Depression 21W has formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, with cold cloud top temperatures indicating heavy rainfall potential. The depression is currently moving northwest at 11 knots and is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm by September 24.
Tropical Depression 16E made landfall in northwestern Mexico on September 21, bringing heavy rainfall and threatening life-threatening flash floods. The depression is expected to produce 3-5 inches of rain across the northern Baja California peninsula and Sonora, with isolated amounts of up to 12 inches possible.
Tropical Depression 9 is battling strong vertical wind shear and dry air, leading to its weakening. The depression is expected to degenerate into a remnant low pressure area in 24 hours or less due to persistent environmental conditions.
NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Typhoon Krovanh on September 17, 2015, showing the storm's southeastern quadrant with the Marianas Islands resembling five o'clock in the sky. The typhoon had intensified into a powerful storm with maximum sustained winds near 95 knots.
Tropical Depression 9 developed in the central Atlantic on September 16, 2015, with tropical-storm-force winds detected by NASA's RapidScat instrument. The depression was already affected by wind shear, according to infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite.
NASA's Aqua satellite captures powerful thunderstorms and cloud top temperatures around -63F/-53C in Tropical Depression 20W, indicating potential for heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to strengthen and potentially affect the Northern Marianas Islands and Japan by September 19.
Tropical Storm Henri has a lopsided structure, with almost all clouds and showers concentrated on the northeastern side of the storm. The southeasterly wind shear and dry air around the system inhibit thunderstorm development in other areas.
Tropical Storm Jimena's remnants have been spotted by NASA's GOES-East and GOES-West satellites, located around 225 miles north of Lihue, Hawaii. The remnant low is moving west to west-southwest at 10 mph and is expected to be inhibited from redevelopment due to environmental conditions.
Tropical Storm Kilo is weakening due to strong vertical wind shear, which is pushing clouds and storms north and east of its center. The storm is expected to become extra-tropical on September 11 off Hokkaido, Japan.
RapidScat analyzed Tropical Storm Henri's surface winds on Sept. 8, revealing tropical-storm-force winds north and east of the center. The storm's wind speed is expected to increase as it moves over warm water, potentially strengthening before weakening.
Tropical Storm Linda is weakening due to a turn to the west-northwest and decreasing forward speed. The storm is expected to become a remnant low later on September 10, bringing swells that will generate life-threatening surf and riptide conditions along the Pacific coasts of Baja California.
Tropical Storm Etau drenched central Japan with intense rainfall, with GPM satellite measurements showing up to 88 mm/h rain rates. The storm's remnants are expected to transition northwestward off the Japanese coast.
Researchers found that phytoplankton organic waste can stimulate cloud droplets to freeze into ice particles, affecting global climate and influencing temperature. This discovery helps improve weather models and climate predictions.
NASA's RapidScat observed hurricane-force winds extending about 30 miles from the center of Hurricane Linda. The storm is rapidly weakening due to decreasing central pressure and cloud top temperatures warming.
Tropical Storm Jimena is being pushed west by strong vertical wind shear, affecting cloud top temperatures and thunderstorms. Forecasters expect the storm to gradually weaken over the next five days.
Tropical Storm Kevin's center is located near the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The storm is expected to weaken due to decreasing sea surface temperatures and increasing vertical wind shear, leading to a depression by September 6.
Tropical Depression Fred is weakening due to strong upper-level winds, while a new low-pressure area called System 91L is moving westward across the tropical Atlantic. Forecasters expect System 91L to have a 40% chance of development in the next two days and 60% in five days.