(Press-News.org) NASA's Aqua satellite has peered into the cloud tops of Tropical Storm Malakas and derived just how cold they really are, giving an indication to forecasters of the strength of the storm.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument, known as AIRS has the ability to determine cloud top and sea surface temperatures from its position in space aboard NASA's Aqua satellite. Cloud top temperatures help forecasters know if a storm is powering up or powering down.
When cloud top temperatures get colder it means that they're getting higher into the atmosphere which means the "uplift" of warm, moist air is stronger and it will form stronger thunderstorms (that power a tropical cyclone). When cloud-top temperatures warm up it means that the cloud tops are lower than they were before, indicating that the storm is weakening.
When the Aqua satellite passed over Malakas from space on Sept. 23 at 0405 UTC (12:05 a.m. EDT) the AIRS instrument took the temperature of the cloud tops in the storm and found them to be as cold as or colder than -63 Fahrenheit throughout a very large area within Tropical Storm Malakas, indicating the storm had a good amount of energy powering it. Infrared imagery also showed an eye with thunderstorms banding around it (circling it), and convection (and thunderstorms) re-building over the system, which indicates strengthening.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is the organization that forecasts tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and they've been right on track with Tropical Storm Malakas' forecast, much to the disappointment of the residents of the Japanese island of Iwo To. That's where Malakas' center is expected to pass very closely near later tonight (Eastern Time/U.S.).
On Sept. 23 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT/midnight Sept. 24 local time at Iwo To), Malakas had maximum sustained winds near 69 mph (4 mph under typhoon strength). It was moving north at 14 mph toward Iwo To, Japan. It was located about 170 nautical miles south of the island, near 22.6 North and 140.9 East. Malakas is kicking up 27-foot high seas as it tracks north.
The center of Malakas is forecast to be closest to the island of Iwo To at 0000 UTC (about 9 a.m. Local time) on Sept. 24 (8 p.m. EDT on Sept. 23).
INFORMATION:
NASA sees important cloud-top temperatures as Tropical Storm Malakas heads for Iwo To
2010-09-24
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
NASA satellites help see ups and downs ahead for Depression Lisa
2010-09-24
Tropical Depression Lisa has had a struggle, and it appears that she's in for more of the same.
Infrared satellite imagery from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite shows that the convection (rapidly rising air that forms thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone) is increasing in Lisa. The convection is becoming a little better organized and stronger which is will make for some heavy rainfall over the northwestern Cape Verde Islands. It's also an indication that she may be strengthening back into a tropical storm today.
That ...
Team of researchers finds possible new genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease
2010-09-24
Researchers have identified a gene that appears to increase a person's risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of the disease. The gene, abbreviated as MTHFD1L, is on chromosome six, and was identified in a genome-wide association study. Details are published September 23 in the journal PLoS Genetics.
The collaborative team of researchers was led by Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, PhD, Director of the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Joseph D. Buxbaum, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, ...
Earth: Fixing Pakistan's water woes
2010-09-24
Pakistan is facing tremendous water issues. This summer's flooding has left millions of people without homes and without access to clean drinking water. But water issues - both quantity and quality - are not new to this strategically important country. Waterborne diseases account for 30 percent of all deaths in Pakistan, and kill some 250,000 children each year. Per capita water availability in Pakistan is less than one-ninth of what it is in the U.S. And what's more, researchers say if Pakistan doesn't manage its water resources differently, it's going to actually run ...
Robotic arm's big flaw: Patients say it's 'too easy'
2010-09-24
One touch directs a robotic arm to grab objects in a new computer program designed to give people in wheelchairs more independence.
University of Central Florida researchers thought the ease of the using the program's automatic mode would be a huge hit. But they were wrong – many participants in a pilot study didn't like it because it was "too easy."
Most participants preferred the manual mode, which requires them to think several steps ahead and either physically type in instructions or verbally direct the arm with a series of precise commands. They favored the manual ...
Black motorcyclists -- even in helmets -- more likely to die in crashes
2010-09-24
African-American victims of motorcycle crashes were 1.5 times more likely to die from their injuries than similarly injured whites, even though many more of the African-American victims were wearing helmets at the time of injury, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers.
Results of the research revealing these racial disparities, published in the August issue of the American Journal of Surgery, suggest that injury-prevention programs — like state laws mandating the use of motorcycle helmets — may not be sufficient to protect all riders equally.
"For reasons ...
Withering well can improve fertility
2010-09-24
Contrary to a thousand face cream adverts, the secret of fertility might not be eternal youth. Research by the ecologist Dr. Carlos Herrera, a Professor of Research at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas in Seville, Spain has shown that the withering action of flowers may have evolved to protect their seeds. His research is published in the October 2010 issue of the Annals of Botany (http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcq160).
Prof. Herrera said: "No one has paid much attention to the corollas, collections of petals on a flower, when they shrivel. Their job ...
One of a Kind Comic Art Painting Exclusively for Sale on Sketch Maven for a Limited Time
2010-09-24
Comic collectors and art aficionados have the opportunity to acquire a unique piece of cartoon art history. This week, Sketch Maven is offering a tremendous piece of cartoon artwork featuring the characters of Moon Mullins, one of the longest running comic strips in American history.
"This is beautiful artwork by Ferd and Tom Johnson, measuring over six feet tall and nearly four feet wide. I haven't seen anything like it before," comments Mike Todasco, founder of Sketch Maven, the World's Greatest Original Comic Art Marketplace. "We are fortunate to have this artwork ...
Diane Rich Takes Charge of VivaPrime's Business in The United States As Country Head - Nutraceuticals
2010-09-24
VivaPrime expands its U.S. team with the strategic hire of
Diane Rich, who will lead the holistic lifestyle supplement company in its efforts to promote wellness to U.S. consumers through its line of condition specific nutritional solutions, which were introduced in the U.S. earlier this year.
The primary purpose of Diane's role is to steer VivaPrime's business in the U.S. and make Vivaprime a leading brand in the dietary supplement category. We are pleased to have Ms. Rich join the VivaPrime's dynamic team and lead our efforts in promoting wellness and preventative ...
Promotional Items Inc. For Late Summer Promotions
2010-09-24
Promotional Items Inc. serves a wide clientele both offline and online offering high quality products at discount prices for bulk order promotional items. This is not your one time supplier for products branded with a company logo but uniquely qualified for your continual promotions all year long. Distribution of high quality yet inexpensive logo items keyed toward summertime use only enhances your promotional results.
Late summer is the time when people move outdoors and it is the perfect opportunity to gift them your logo-bearing gift articles with a suitable summer-time ...
MountainBikeLights.net helping you to see and be seen.
2010-09-24
We at Mountain Bike Lights.net Understand Your Need for Proper Lighting during Casual and Dedicated Cycling ExcursionsâEUR, Says Jonathan Website Product Manager.
A firm believer of the notion âEUR˜the world is different at nightâEUR , Mountain Bike Lights.net has provided their customers with a great way in which to choose Mountain Bike Lights via their easy to use website. Ideally, they have done this by firstly listing the important bike lights brand in categories as well as provided an easy view in which buyers can easily access new mountain bike lights added to ...