Sea Surface Temperature and Hurricane Connections: TRMM - August 22, 1998 Through September 3, 1998

  • Released Thursday, May 4, 2000
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For years scientists have known of the strong correlation between sea surface temperature and the intensity of hurricanes. But one of the major stumbling blocks for forecasters has been the precise measurement of those temperatures when a storm begins to form. Traditional techniques for sea surface temperature measurement can not see through clouds.

Now researchers using the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) satellite have developed a technique for looking through clouds that is likely to enhance forecasters' abilities to predict hurricane intensity before their massive energies fully develop. A hurricane gathers energy from warm waters found in tropical latitudes.

As Hurricane Bonnie crosses the Atlantic, it leaves a cooler trail of water in its wake. As Hurricane Danielle crosses Bonnie's path, the wind speed of the second storm drops markedly, as available energy to fuel the storm's engine drops off. As Danielle crosses Bonnie's wake, however, winds speeds increase due to temperature increases in surface water around the storm.

An animation of sea surface temperatures from TRMM in the Atlantic from August 22, 1998 through September 3, 1998. The ocean is cooled by the passage of Hurricane Bonnie and then by the passage of Hurricane Danielle.

An image of sea surface temperatures from TRMM in the Atlantic on August 28, 1998. This image shows the wake of cool water left by Hurricane Bonnie as it approached the East Coast of the United States. On this date, Bonnie is over Cape Hatteras.

An image of sea surface temperatures from TRMM in the Atlantic on August 28, 1998. This image shows the wake of cool water left by Hurricane Bonnie as it approached the East Coast of the United States. On this date, Bonnie is over Cape Hatteras.

Color bar for sea surface temperature

Color bar for sea surface temperature

An image of sea surface temperatures from TRMM in the Atlantic on August 28, 1998. This image shows the wake of cool water left by Hurricane Bonnie as it approached the East Coast of the United States. On this date, Bonnie is over Cape Hatteras.

An image of sea surface temperatures from TRMM in the Atlantic on August 28, 1998. This image shows the wake of cool water left by Hurricane Bonnie as it approached the East Coast of the United States. On this date, Bonnie is over Cape Hatteras.

Video slate image reads, "Sea Surface Temperature and Hurricane Connections (SST data only)".

Video slate image reads, "Sea Surface Temperature and Hurricane Connections (SST data only)".

For More Information

See http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/stories/hurricanes/index.html

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

This page was originally published on Thursday, May 4, 2000.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:58 PM EDT.

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