Earth  ID: 2759

AMSR-E Anomalous Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Data Used to predict 2003 Hurricane Season

Visualizations by Lori Perkins Released on June 23, 2003
Researchers and forecasters often study sea surface temperatures to predict the upcoming year's tropical cyclone activity. This sequence tracks warmer-than-normal waters and colder-than-normal waters in the Pacific Ocean. In 2003, experts have predicted a 'normal to below normal' number of tropical cyclones. Researchers say the Pacific may transition to the colder-than-normal La Niña phase. Fewer than normal hurricanes generally form when El Niño is present. Areas in red represent warmer than normal and areas in blue represent cooler than normal.
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This animation show a year in the life of global ocean temperatures, June 2, 2002 to May 11, 2003. Blue indicates the cooler-than-normal water. Red shows warmer-than-normal water.

For More Information

http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2003/0529hurricane03.html

Visualization Credits

Lori Perkins (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
David Adamec (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/2759

Data Used:
Aqua/AMSR-E
06/02/2002 - 05/11/2003
For more information, please click http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/AMSR/
view all stories where this data set is used
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:
El Niño and La Niña

Goddard TV Tape:
G2003-036

Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
DLESE >> Physical oceanography
SVS >> SST
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Phenomena >> Hurricanes
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Ocean Temperature >> Sea Surface Temperature
SVS >> Hurricane Forecasting
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