Earth ID: 4186

GPM Dissects Hurricane Arthur

Visualizations by Alex Kekesi Released on July 8, 2014

The Global Precipitation Measurement mission's Core Observatory flew over Hurricane Arthur five times between July 1 and July 6, 2014. Arthur is the first tropical cyclone of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane season. It formed as a tropical storm on Tuesday, July 1 and reached maximum intensity as a Category 2 hurricane on July 4, disrupting some coastal U.S. Independence Day celebrations. This visualization is taken from the flyover on July 3, 2014 with Hurricane Arthur just off the South Carolina coast. GPM data showed that the hurricane was asymmetrical, with spiral arms, called rain bands, on the eastern side of the storm but not on the western side.

The GPM Core Observatory carries two instruments that show the location and intensity of the rain, which defines a crucial part of the storm structure – and how it will behave. The GPM Microwave Imager sees through the tops of clouds to observe how much and where precipitation occurs, and the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar observes precise details of precipitation in 3-dimensions.

For forecasters, GPM's microwave and radar data are part of the toolbox of satellite data, including other low Earth orbit and geostationary satellites, that they use to monitor tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

The addition of GPM data to the current suite of satellite data is timely. Its predecessor precipitation satellite, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, is 18 years into what was originally a three-year mission. GPM's new high-resolution microwave imager data and the unique radar data ensure that forecasters and modelers won't have a gap in coverage. GPM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The satellite launched Feb. 27, and after its check-out period began its prime mission on May 29, in time for hurricane season. All GPM data products will be released to the public by September 2, 2104. Current and future data sets are available to registered users from NASA Goddard's Precipitation Processing Center website.

Animation of Hurricane Arthur on July 3rd, 2014. The animation begins with global infrared data showing the progression of the storm as it forms into a hurricane. Then GPM flies overhead measuring rain rates on the ground. GPM's Dual frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) then dissolves in to reveal the internal structure of the hurricane. Next, a cutting plane appears to dissect the storm and show the inner rain patterns.

Colorbar for liquid precipitation rates (ie, rain rates). Shades of green represent low amounts of liquid precipitation, whereas shades of red represent high amounts of precipitation.

Colorbar for frozen precipitation rates (ie, snow rates). Shades of cyan represent low amounts of frozen precipitation, whereas shades of purple represent high amounts of precipitation.

Print resolution still of Hurricane Arthur as seen through GPM's GMI and DPR sensors. This is Hurricane Arthur on July 3rd, 2014 off the South Carolina coast. Colors ranging from light green to red indicate areas of low to high liquid precipitation. The violet areas in the upper atmosphere are areas showing frozen precipitation.

Print resolution still showing a cross section of Hurricane Arthur as seen through GPM's DPR sensors. Colors ranging from light green to red indicate areas of low to high liquid precipitation. The areas in the upper atmosphere that range from light blue to violet indicate frozen precipitation.

Print resolution still showing a cross section of Hurricane Arthur through it's eye. Colors ranging from light green to red indicate areas of low to high liquid precipitation. The areas in the upper atmosphere that range from light blue to violet indicate frozen precipitation.

Visualization Credits

Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Animator
Ryan Fitzgibbons (USRA): Producer
Rani Gran (NASA/GSFC): Producer
Gail Skofronick Jackson (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
George Huffman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Dalia B Kirschbaum (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Project Support
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Project Support
Chris Kidd (University of Maryland): Project Support
John M. Kwiatkowski (George Mason University): Project Support
William S. Olson (JCET/UMBC): Project Support
Ellen T. Gray (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

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Missions:
Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM)
Viking

Data Used:

CPC (Climate Prediction Center) Cloud Composite

Data Compilation - Climate Prediction Center (CPC) - 7/1/14 - 7/3/14

Global cloud cover from multiple satellites

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GPM/GMI/Surface Precipitation also referred to as: Rain Rates

7/3/14

Credit:
Data provided by the joint NASA/JAXA GPM mission.

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GPM/DPR/Ku also referred to as: Volumetric Precipitation data

Observed Data - JAXA - 7/3/14

Credit:
Data provided by the joint NASA/JAXA GPM mission.

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Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

This item is part of this series:
GPM Animations

Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Natural hazards
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Phenomena >> Hurricanes
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Precipitation >> Precipitation Rate
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Precipitation >> Rain
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0