NASA's Earth-observing satellites provided valuable data on the structure and movement of Tropical Storm Maria as it made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. This information was used to help forecasters predict the storm's path and intensity, as well as to provide decision-makers with information on how to prepare for the storm.
In the aftermath of the storm, NASA's satellites continued to provide data to help assess the damage and support relief efforts. For example, the Suomi NPP satellite's VIIRS instrument provided high-resolution imagery that was used to create maps of the affected areas. This information was used to identify areas that were hardest hit and to help plan for the distribution of aid.
In addition to its Earth-observing satellites, NASA also has a number of research programs that are focused on improving our understanding of tropical storms. These programs are developing new technologies and techniques to better predict the behavior of these storms and to mitigate their impacts.
How Satellites Helped Track Maria
* Visible imagery from the GOES-16 satellite showed the storm's structure and location.
* Infrared imagery from GOES-16 showed the storm's intensity.
* Microwave imagery from the GPM satellite showed the storm's precipitation structure.
* Data from the CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites helped to determine the storm's cloud structure and vertical distribution of precipitation.
How Satellites Helped with Disaster Response
* High-resolution imagery from the Suomi NPP satellite's VIIRS instrument helped to create maps of the affected areas.
* Data from the MODIS instrument helped to assess the environmental impact of the storm, such as deforestation and flooding.
* The SAR instrument on the Sentinel-1 satellite provided high-resolution imagery of the affected areas, which was used to identify damaged infrastructure.
NASA's Research on Tropical Storms
NASA has a number of research programs that are focused on improving our understanding of tropical storms. These programs are developing new technologies and techniques to better predict the behavior of these storms and to mitigate their impacts.
Some of NASA's tropical storm research programs include:
* The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that studies rainfall in tropical regions. TRMM data has been used to improve our understanding of the structure and evolution of tropical storms.
* The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is a follow-on to TRMM that will provide even more detailed data on rainfall in tropical regions. GPM data will be used to improve our understanding of tropical storms and to develop new tools for forecasting these storms.
* The Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) mission is a constellation of small satellites that will study tropical storms in unprecedented detail. HS3 data will be used to improve our understanding of the processes that drive tropical storms and to develop new tools for predicting these storms.
NASA's research on tropical storms is helping to improve our understanding of these powerful storms and to develop new ways to mitigate their impacts. This work is essential for protecting life and property in the face of these natural disasters.
