Hurricane Chris's Eye Stares at NASA's Aqua Satellite 11 July 2018
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Hurricane Chris's eye stares at NASA's Aqua satellite 11 July 2018 light. Infrared light provides scientists with temperature data and that's important when trying to understand how strong storms can be. The higher the cloud tops, the colder and the stronger they are. So infrared light as that gathered by the AIRS instrument can identify the strongest sides of a tropical cyclone. AIRS detected strongest storms in a thick band around the eye, and in large, fragmented bands of thunderstorms north and east of the center. All of those area revealed cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). Storms with cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to produce heavy rainfall. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 AIRS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite passed miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm- over Hurricane Chris on July 11 at 2:17 a.m. EDT (0617 force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 UTC) and analyzed the storm in infrared light. AIRS km). found strongest storms in a thick band around the eye, and in large, fragmented bands of thunderstorms north Heavy Rains Expected in Newfoundland, Ocean and east of the center with cloud top temperatures as Swells Along the U.S. East Coast cold as -63F/-53C. Credit: NASA JPL/Heidar Thrastarson NHC cautioned that ocean swells generated by Hurricane Chris are expected to affect portions of the coasts of North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the U.S. States during the next few days. These swells Eastern seaboard, it captured an infrared image of could cause life-threatening surf and rip current Hurricane Chris that showed an eye staring back at conditions. the satellite. Chris is expected to continue generating heavy ocean swells along the U.S. East Chris' forecast track brings the hurricane near Coast and bring heavy rainfall to Newfoundland, Newfoundland, Canada. Chris is expected to Canada. produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 3 inches (25 to 75 millimeters) over Newfoundland, with Chris strengthened into a hurricane on July 10 at 5 possible isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches p.m. EDT when it was about 205 miles (330 km) (150 millimeters). These rains may cause flash east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. flooding. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS The Status of Chris on July 11, 2018 instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Chris on July 11 at 2:17 a.m. EDT The National Hurricane Center noted at 11 a.m. (0617 UTC) and analyzed the storm in infrared EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Chris was located near latitude 36.4 degrees north and 1 / 2 longitude 67.8 degrees west. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph (155 kph) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected during the day today, with some weakening forecast on Thursday, July 12. Chris was moving toward the northeast near 22 mph (35 kph). The hurricane is forecast to remain on this general heading with an increase in forward speed for the next several days. On the forecast track the center of Chris will pass near southeastern Newfoundland, Canada on Thursday, July 12. Chris will likely also become a strong post-tropical cyclone on Thursday. Provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center APA citation: Hurricane Chris's eye stares at NASA's Aqua satellite (2018, July 11) retrieved 1 October 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2018-07-hurricane-chris-eye-nasa-aqua.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. 2 / 2 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org).