As we all sit in front of our TVs watching the giant red pinwheel spin endlessly up its cone of projection, NASA has an interesting, different way of rendering the storm's features and strengths on the Irene portion of their Hurricanes/Tropical Cyclones blog.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite radar takes a 3-D picture that shows not only intensity but height.
Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the images are subject to the satellite's orbit, so it's not like they're able to fly over the storm whenever they want to gather new data. Still, I've been watching storm coverage and updates for hours this morning and I don't think I've heard anyone report that "the highest towering thunderstorms were about 7.5 miles high" on Friday.
A different rendering of TRMM data:
"Another 3-D view of Irene was captured on August 24 the storm, revealed once again the presence of a deep convective tower within the eyewall. The red area indicates rainfall rates of 50mm/hr (~2 inches), while yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches (20-40 mm) per hour."
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Thanks Rachel! All is well here in Newport News Va. High windes and rain but no damage that I can see!
Will, I think you meant "endlessly". Something bothers me about the top graphic. It sorta looks like random innards. Much prefer the second. Hope you're all safe.
I got the same feeling. The top pic was somehow disturbing, the bottom pic much nicer.
Thanks fringe, got the typo.
For what it's worth, that top image isn't the most current but I chose it because it labels the "hot tower." When you think of all the meteorological lexicon we all learn watching these weather dudes on TV, why aren't hot towers part of that? It seems like those are very relevant to the strength of the storm and the amount of rain they drop.
Thanks. Great views. You all are in our thoughts and prayers as Irene moves up the coast. Be safe -
The 3-D image of Irene looks disturbingly close to something I once found under my couch.
Some info from a friend who just retired from NASA.
Back in 2004 the satellite that was launched by the Japanese Space Agency for us in 1997 was running low on fuel for maneuvering. NASA requirements for satellites require that the last volumes of fuel be used to deorbit the satellite safely into the ocean even if the satellite can stay in orbit for decades. An assessment was made that the beneficial data on storms from the satellite were greater than the risk imposed by an uncontrolled reentry at some future date decades away. The thought also was that somebody in the future might be able to intercept or retrieve the satellite and steer it into a controlled reentry. Stay tuned. In the mean time it continues to function well and saving lives."
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Tell me that top image doesn't look like a monk in red robes praying between two large rock formations. :)
Maybe in a really old school game. The 2nd monk is in an invisible room, doing some kind of yellow magic...
bottom caption on the map: TRMM Precipitation Radar. "The Rachel Maddow Map"??
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