Tornadoes in Oklahoma, May 9, 2016 NOAAVisualizations 2016-05-10 | On May 9, 2016, a series of severe storms swept through Oklahoma and Nebraska. The storms spawned several deadly tornadoes throughout the day that claimed two lives and destroyed several homes.This video, created using 1-minute visible imagery from the GOES-14 satellite, shows the developing storm systems and the trailing tornadoes from 7:15 am EDT through 9:47 pm EDT. The intricate detail of the storms was captured by placing GOES-14 into a special rapid scan mode, known as SRSO-R, that acquires data every minute, simulating the future real-time storm-tracking and imagery capabilities of the forthcoming GOES-R satellite series.Scientists have been performing these simulated "test runs" since 2012 with GOES-14 to periodically collect nearly continuous rapid-scan imagery. Once launched and operational, GOES-R will provide scans of Earth five times faster and at four times the image resolution than previous geostationary satellites.
2016 Officially Warmest Year on Record NOAAVisualizations 2017-01-18 | 2016 is officially the new warmest year on record, edging out previous record holder 2015 by 0.07°F, according to NOAA. It is the third year in a row that global average surface temperature set a new record, and the fifth time the record has been broken since the start of the twenty-first century.This animation shows annual temperatures each year since 1880 compared to the twentieth-century average, ending with record-warm 2016. Because of global warming due to increasing greenhouse gases, the maps from the late 1800s and the early 1900s are dominated by shades of blue, indicating temperatures were up to 3°C (5.4°F) cooler than the twentieth-century average.By the 1980s, the maps take on shades of yellow, with a few large cooler-than-average spots shifting around from year to year. By the 2000s, most of the planet is orange and red—up to 3°C (5.4°F) warmer than the long-term average, with only a few isolated cool spots from year to year.
Powerful Cyclone Meranti South of Taiwan NOAAVisualizations 2016-09-14 | This two-minute rapid scan infrared imagery from the Himawari-8 satellite shows the path of Typhoon Meranti in the Northwest Pacific Ocean on September 13 and 14, 2016. Yesterday (9/13), Meranti, then a "Super Typhoon," (a classification reserved for cyclones with sustained wind speeds of more than 150 miles per hour) hit the island of Itbayat in the Luzon Strait and delivered a glancing blow to southern Taiwan. The cyclone is on track to make landfall in southeast China today.As its name implies, two-minute rapid scan imagery can provide a scan of a particular area every 2 minutes, allowing forecasters to see intricate details of a storm as they develop. Moreover, this type of imagery offers us a glimpse of the kind of imagery we'll be able to obtain with NOAA's GOES-R satellite. GOES-R, now in Florida being prepared for launch, will carry a nearly identical imagery as Himawari-8.The primary instrument aboard Himawari-8 -- the first unit of the Japan Meteorological Agency's third-generation of geostationary satellites -- is the Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI), a 16 channel multispectral imager to capture visible light and infrared images of the Asia-Pacific region. Himawari's data are vital for global geostationary coverage, which is why NOAA and JMA have agreed to mutual back-up arrangements for their geostationary systems.
Modeling the Future of Our Ocean NOAAVisualizations 2016-06-08 | June 8, 2016 is World Oceans Day, a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration. On June 8 each year, we celebrate the ocean, its importance in our lives, and how we can protect it. In order to measure and understand the planet's oceans, NOAA is constantly monitoring daily measurements of dozens of ocean variables, providing assessments of ocean health, and modeling the future of ocean dynamics.This animation shows four years of sea surface temperature (SST) data from a NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's Earth-system model. You can see several amazing features in this visualization, from the cycling of El Niño to La Niña, streaks of cooler water created by tropical cyclones, seasonal shifts in temperature, and even ocean currents and eddies--reinforcing the idea that there may be several ocean basins, but only one connected ocean.Not only does the NOAA Satellite and Information Service house and distribute data such as these Earth-system models, but it also provides carefully analyzed, long-term climate data records based on satellite derived information that help validate the accuracy of such models.
2015 Was the Warmest Year on Record NOAAVisualizations 2016-01-20 | According to NOAA, the globally averaged temperature, over land and ocean surfaces for 2015, was the highest since record keeping began in 1880. The average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was 1.62°F (0.90°C) above the 20th century average, and was the highest among all years in the 1880-2015 record, surpassing the previous record set last year by 0.29°F (0.16°C).This animation shows a time-series of the Merged Land and Ocean Surface Temperature dataset that is analyzed and curated by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, and also available in NOAA View. Blue colors indicate temperatures cooler than then 20th Century average; red colors are warmer than the 20th Century average. Although temperatures vary from year to year and place to place, a consistent trend arises over time where global average temperature increases.
The 2004 Indonesia Tsunami NOAAVisualizations 2016-01-05 | On December 26, 2004 a 9.1 magnitude earthquake near the Indonesian island of Sumatra generated a massive tsunami that propagated across the planet. This simulation, using the NOAA MOST model for predicting how and when tsunamis will travel across the ocean, shows the series of waves generated by the tectonic megathrust. Bright colors indicate positive wave heights, dark colors are the troughs, or depressions in the sea surface. When in deep water, tsunami waves move very quickly (up to 1,000 kph) and with a low wave height. As they approach the coast and the depth of the ocean decreases, the wave slows down and mounds up. In this case, the maximum wave height exceeded 30m in some locations. It is estimated that over 250,000 people died in the event. Notice how the ocean floor topography (bathymetry) interacts with the wave, causing rippling, and bending the direction of movement.
NOAA declares third-ever global coral bleaching event NOAAVisualizations 2015-10-08 | As record ocean temperatures cause widespread coral bleaching across Hawaii, NOAA scientists confirm the same stressful conditions are expanding to the Caribbean and may last into the new year, prompting the declaration of the third global coral bleaching event ever on record. Waters are warming in the Caribbean, threatening coral in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, NOAA scientists said. Coral bleaching began in the Florida Keys and South Florida in August, but now scientists expect bleaching conditions there to diminish. This bleaching event, which began in the north Pacific in summer 2014 and expanded to the south Pacific and Indian oceans in 2015, is hitting U.S. coral reefs disproportionately hard. NOAA estimates that by the end of 2015, almost 95 percent of U.S. coral reefs will have been exposed to ocean conditions that can cause corals to bleach. The biggest risk right now is to the Hawaiian Islands, where bleaching is intensifying and is expected to continue for at least another month. Areas at risk in the Caribbean in coming weeks include Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and from the U.S. Virgin Islands south into the Leeward and Windward islands. The next concern is the further impact of the strong El Niño, which climate models indicates will cause bleaching in the Indian and southeastern Pacific Oceans after the new year. This may cause bleaching to spread globally again in 2016.
Fire hose sets aim on Southeast U.S. NOAAVisualizations 2015-10-05 | A "fire hose" of tropical moisture, also known as an atmospheric river, has doused the Carolinas in record rainfall and triggered life-threatening flash floods. This water vapor loop, showing the content of water in the atmosphere, shows Hurricane Joaquin bypassing the U.S. after pounding the Bahamas and a separate area of low pressure spinning across the Southeast U.S. that helped stream historically heavy rainfall inland. This imagery is from GOES East from October 1 to October 5, 2015.
Hurricane Katrina August 22 through September 1, 2005 NOAAVisualizations 2015-08-27 | Imagery of Hurricane Katrina from GOES East including rapid scan data from August 22 through September 1, 2005.
Hurricane Katrina From GOES East, August 22 through September 1, 2005 NOAAVisualizations 2015-08-26 | Hurricane Katrina as seen by GOES East, including rapid scan imagery, from August 22 through September 1, 2005.
NOAA weatherView NOAAVisualizations 2015-08-06 | NOAA weatherView is a new tool designed by the NOAA Visualization Lab to provide an interactive experience with NOAA weather models. You can access NOAA weatherView at www.nnvl.noaa.gov/weatherview/index.html
2014 Was the Warmest Year on Record NOAAVisualizations 2015-01-16 | Analysis by NOAA shows that in 2014, the combined land and ocean surface temperature was 1.24°F (0.69°C) above the 20th century average, making the year the warmest since records began in 1880. The ocean alone was record warm, while the land alone was fourth warmest. Five months set new records for warmth: May, June, August, September, and December. October tied for record warmest. The 20 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred in the past 20 years. Except for 1998, the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2002.This animation shows Earth’s surface temperature from 1880-2014 compared to the 20th-Century Average. The maps and graph are based on the MLOST data from the NOAA National Climatic Data Center. The imagery is also available in NOAA View.
GOES West Daylight Images of Hurricane Ana NOAAVisualizations 2014-10-21 | GOES West entered Rapid Scan Operations between 1829Z on October 15 through 1159Z on October 21 to provide coverage of Hurricane Ana as it moved south of the Hawaiian Islands. This movie shows all available sunlit images with night's passage remaining dark. Seen here, on October 15, Tropical Storm Ana was approximately 590 miles southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. On October 16, the U.S. Coast Guard made preparations to close Hawaii’s ports east of Oahu as the storm moved west-northwestward. The center of Ana passed about 115 miles southwest of the Big Island on the night of October 17. Heavy rainfall and rising surf created flash flood conditions on the Big Island. Similar conditions affected the main Hawaiian Islands on October 18 as the center of Ana passed 95 miles south of Ni'ihau with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph with higher gusts. Ana continued moving northwestward through October 19, with tropical storm winds extending outward up to 105 miles from the center. Watches and warnings for the main Hawaiian Islands were discontinued on October 20 as the storm continued to move west.Rapid scan operations provide enhanced coverage during times of critical need in order to provide the most up-to-date information for forecasters to provide watches and warnings in support of a Weather-Ready Nation.
Tracking Typhoon Phanfone from Japan to the U.S. NOAAVisualizations 2014-10-15 | North America’s Pacific Northwest region is no stranger to wet weather, especially in the fall. Large waves of moisture, often called the “Pineapple Express” or atmospheric rivers, frequently start as belts of moisture in the Central Pacific and make their way eastward, pushed by the prevailing westerly winds. Using imagery from NOAA’S Global Forecast System weather model, watch as a storm develops in the Western Pacific, intensifies into Typhoon Phanfone, moves north across Japan, and then east across the Pacific. A mixture of atmospheric moisture and wind speeds data are used to illustrate the evolution of this system.
Tracking Category 4 Hurricane Hugo (1989) NOAAVisualizations 2014-09-19 | One of the most destructive Atlantic hurricanes in history, Hurricane Hugo grew to Category 4 status before slamming into the Carolina coastline in 1989. This animation shows the intensity of the storm using colorized infrared imagery from the GOES-7 satellite from September 12-23, 1989. Orange and red colors indicate area with the coldest, highest cloud tops that are associated with the greatest convective strength, rainfall, and winds.
Classic ENSO temperature patterns NOAAVisualizations 2014-05-16 | Warm and cool departures from average sea surface temperature in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are the hallmark of the climate phenomenon known as ENSO—the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. This animation shows monthly temperature patterns in the tropical Pacific during the exceptionally strong 1997-98 El Niño (warm phase) and the following years, as the climate pattern reversed to its cool, La Niña, phase. NOAA scientists are reporting that El Niño is likely to emerge by the end of 2014.
Rapid Scan Shows Severe Weather in the Central U.S. NOAAVisualizations 2014-05-09 | On May 8, 2014, geostationary satellite GOES-14 was placed in Super Rapid Scan Operations GOES-R to support Advanced Baseline Imager testing, the primary instrument on the next generation of GOES satellites for imaging Earth's weather, oceans and environment. This movie shows the channel 1 visible imagery from 1115Z on May 8 through 0147Z on May 9 in 1 minute increments. During the movie, the severe weather of May 8 can be seen developing from Texas north into Minnesota.
The High Variability of Global Albedo NOAAVisualizations 2014-01-29 | This animation shows variations in Earth's reflection of sunlight, called albedo, from month to month, based on NASA satellite measurements over a 12-year period. A recent publication in the journal Nature Climate Change by NOAA and NASA researchers concludes that the natural variability of Earth's albedo poses limits to the possibility of detecting increases in the planet's reflection of sunlight that might result from proposed climate engineering activities.The CERES instrument measures Earth's radiation budget -- the amount of energy (light and heat) that enters and leaves the planet. Originally flown on NASA's EOS satellites, CERES is now part of the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite mission will also be included on the NOAA JPSS-1 satellite (scheduled for a 2017 launch).
Super Typhoon Haiyan Impacts the Philippines NOAAVisualizations 2013-11-08 | Super Typhoon Haiyan has traversed the Philippines and has entered the South China Sea. This animation shows a combination of visible and infrared imagery from the Japan Meteorological Agency's MTSAT satellite starting November 3 at 1630Z and finishing November 8 at 1630Z.
New Research and Forecast Model Simulates Sandy-type Storms NOAAVisualizations 2013-10-30 | Most tropical cyclones head out to sea when moving along the U.S. coastline, pushed by the prevailing winds. A new high-resolution climate model developed at NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory can produce tropical storms, including Sandy-like storms and the conditions that drive their "left hook." This research model can be used to understand the causes of unusual and destructive events like Sandy, and help lead to improved predictions.
Hurricane Sandy One Year Later NOAAVisualizations 2013-10-29 | On October 29, 2012, Sandy came ashore near Brigantine, New Jersey, a post-tropical cyclone of tremendous size driving a catastrophic storm surge into the New Jersey and New York coastlines. Sandy was an extraordinarily large hurricane, its size growing considerably from the time it reached the Bahamas until its final landfall. The storm caused water levels to rise along the entire east coast of the United States from Florida northward to Maine. The highest storm surges and greatest inundation on land occurred in the states of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, especially in and around the New York City metropolitan area. In many of these locations the surge was accompanied by powerful damaging waves. This movie shows GOES East infrared and visible imagery from October 20 through November 1, 2012.
NOAA Model Shows Wildfire Smoke Spread Across the U.S. NOAAVisualizations 2013-08-21 | When volcanoes erupt, toxic plumes are released, or wildfires burn, NOAA's HYSPLIT model is used to answer some fundamental questions: where will it go and how concentrated will it be? The HYSPLIT wild fire smoke model run on August 21st, 2013 at 6z shows the cloud of smoke being emitted from many of the wildfires raging in the Western U.S. The actual locations of these point-source pollutants can be seen as very high concentration smoke areas, colored dark brown. The data shows the plumes reaching across the Continental United States by Friday, August 23rd.The ability of the NOAA GOES satellite to detect aerosols is an important input to these models, as are the wind measurements derived from GOES infrared imagery.
10 Years of Weather History in 3 Minutes NOAAVisualizations 2013-08-19 | NOAA's GOES-12 satellite was decommissioned on August 16th, 2013 after 3,788 days in service. From April 2003 -- May 2010, GOES-12 served as GOES East, providing "eye in the sky" monitoring for such memorable events as the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and the series of blizzards during the winter of 2009-2010. After suffering thruster control issues, GOES-12 was taken out of normal service and moved to provide greater coverage of the Southern Hemisphere as the first-ever GOES South. During that time it provided enhanced severe weather monitoring for South America. This animation shows one image from each day of the satellite's life -- a total of 3,641 full disk visible images.
Hurricane Katrina (2005) Colorized IR NOAAVisualizations 2013-08-16 | On August 16, 2013, NOAA officially decommissioned the GOES-12 satellite. As the official weather satellite monitoring the eastern U.S. and Atlantic Ocean from 2003-2010, it tracked hundreds of severe weather events - but none more iconic than Hurricane Katrina. This loops shows colorized infrared imagery from the GOES-12 satellite as it tracks the storm during late August of 2005.
Saharan Dust Cloud Travels Across Atlantic NOAAVisualizations 2013-07-30 | NOAA's satellites have detected a plume of dust moving off the coast of Africa. Though quite common, this particular plume, also called the Saharan Air Layer, has a relatively constrained area of high concentration. This animation uses a recently enhanced version of the NOAA NGAC aerosol model to show how the plume is expected to travel across the Atlantic Basin over the next four days. The Saharan Air Layer plays an important role in lessening "cyclogenesis," or the formation of hurricanes.
Green: Vegetation on Our Planet (Spinning Earth) NOAAVisualizations 2013-06-19 | Vegetation changes are seen to subtlety change over one year in this video using vegetation index data from the NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite. More information at www.nnvl.noaa.gov/green.php
Green: Vegetation on Our Planet (Flat Earth) NOAAVisualizations 2013-06-19 | Vegetation changes are seen to subtlety change over one year in this video using vegetation index data from the NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite. More information at www.nnvl.noaa.gov/green.php
Measuring Vegetation from Space NOAAVisualizations 2013-06-19 | Dr. Felix Kogan, a physical scientist at the NOAA Satellite and Information Service, discusses how vegetation data from the Suomi NPP satellite is advancing the ability to detect and monitor greenness and drought changes over the planet.
Green: Vegetation on Our Planet (Tour of Earth) NOAAVisualizations 2013-06-19 | Although 75% of the planet is a relatively unchanging ocean of blue, the remaining 25% of Earth's surface is a dynamic green. Data from the NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite is able to detect these subtle differences in greenness. The resources on this page highlight our ever-changing planet, using highly detailed vegetation index data from the satellite, developed by scientists at NOAA. The darkest green areas are the lushest in vegetation, while the pale colors are sparse in vegetation cover either due to snow, drought, rock, or urban areas. Satellite data from April 2012 to April 2013 was used to generate these animations and images.
June 13, 2013 Storms on the East Coast NOAAVisualizations 2013-06-14 | For the past week, forecast models showed unstable conditions that could lead to significant severe weather events. NOAA put the GOES-14 satellite in Super Rapid Scan Operations mode on June 12 and 13. The satellite took images every minute in a truncated scan area, resulting in very detailed imagery of the storms developing out of the upper Midwestern U.S. This movie shows all of the available visible images from 0920Z on June 13 through 0129Z on June 14.
Shirley Murillo - On Using Radars Mounted to Hurricane Hunter Aircraft NOAAVisualizations 2013-05-23 | Shirley Murillo, a meteorologist with the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, discusses how the tail-mounted radars on the NOAA P-3 hurricane hunter aircraft provide a unique understanding of the inner-workings of hurricanes. As the P-3 flies through storms, the radar continuously scans the storm in 3-D and transmits that data back to the National Hurricane Center. This data can be quickly incorporated into forecast models, providing the best possible estimates about track and intensity for the storm.
High Speed Imagery of the Oklahoma Tornadoes NOAAVisualizations 2013-05-21 | On May 20, 2013 as conditions were ripening for severe weather outbreaks in the U.S. Plains, the NOAA Satellite and Information Service placed the GOES-13 satellite into rapid scan operations - meaning that the satellite went from taking imagery every 30 minutes to every 5 minutes. The added frequency greatly assists meteorologists in understanding rapidly evolving weather events, such as the tornadoes that struck Oklahoma that day. This animation shows the GOES-13 visible imagery during the daylight hours of the 20th.
Bob Kuligowski - On Using Satellite Data to Monitor Flash Floods NOAAVisualizations 2013-05-06 | Bob Kuligowski, a meteorologist with the NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research, discusses how the satellites are used to monitor for potential flash flood conditions. The infrared sensors on weather satellites can detect cloud top temperatures. Usually the coldest, highest cloud tops are associated with areas of heavy rainfall. These measurements are especially critical in open ocean areas or in countries without sophisticated ground-based rain gauge and radar networks for more precise rainfall estimates, along with mountainous areas where radar measurements are obscured by the terrain.
Arctic Ice Breaks Up in Beaufort Sea NOAAVisualizations 2013-03-22 | A series of intense storms in the Arctic has caused fracturing of the sea ice around the Beaufort Sea along the northern coasts of Alaska and Canada. High-resolution imagery from the Suomi NPP satellite shows the evolution of the cracks forming in the ice, called leads, from February 17 -- March 18 2013. The general circulation of the area is seen moving the ice westward along the Alaskan coast.
20th Anniversary of the Storm of the Century March 1993 NOAAVisualizations 2013-03-19 | What started out as an area of low pressure off the coast of Texas on March 12, 1993 quickly developed into what many people refer to as "The Storm of the Century." The evolution of this winter superstorm can be seen in this imagery from the GOES-7 satellite, using both visible and colorized infrared data. As the storm developed in the Deep South, it spawned 15 tornadoes in Florida and dumped from 8 to 33 inches of snow from Alabama to the Carolinas. As the storm moved north and intensified, conditions became even worse. With a central pressure of 961 millibars, usually found only in Category 3 hurricanes, whiteout conditions were common. Snowfall exceeded 2.5 feet in some locations.When the storm passed, at least 270 people were dead and $5.5 billion dollars in damage were sustained. The National Climatic Data Center still ranks the 1993 as the most impactful winter storm to hit the Northeast. Though the 1978 and 1996 blizzards may have brought more intense localized conditions, the scale of the 1993 storm has not been equaled in recent history.
Early March Storm Affects Large Swath of the U.S. NOAAVisualizations 2013-03-06 | A winter storm that brought 24 inches of snow to Rocky Boy, MT, 11 inches to La Grange Point, IL, and 9 inches to Bellefontaine, OH, impacts the mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, March 6 before delivering more snow to parts of the Northeast. Heavy wet snow, more than a foot deep in spots, in parts of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia resulted in downed trees and power outages, while a sloppy mix of rain and snow fell along the I-95 corridor, including Washington, D.C. This movie spans March 3 through the morning of March 6, 2013, made from GOES East infrared imagery.
February 8-10, 2013, Snowstorm from the GOES Satellite NOAAVisualizations 2013-02-12 | This movie shows the imagery over New England during the historic snow event spanning February 8-10, 2013. The snowstorm in New England brought historic snowfall to many communities in New England with snow totals in excess of 2 feet. Blizzard warnings along the coast were put in place ahead of high winds that reached 83 miles per hour in Cuttyhunk, MA, 82 in Westport, CT, and 81 in Mount Washington, ME. This movie starts February 6, 2013, and goes through February 10, 2013. The imagery is a mix of visible and infrared channels from GOES East.
A Shroud of Cold Air Descends on the U.S. NOAAVisualizations 2013-01-24 | A drop in the jet stream sent temperatures across the United States plummeting over the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday weekend. The pronounced change in temperatures can be seen in this weather data from NOAA/NCEP's Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis. Areas colored blue are below freezing. The diurnal cycle of heating and cooling can be seen over time, but the pattern is clear: much of the U.S. is pretty cold.
A River of Atmospheric Moisture Moves Across the Pacific NOAAVisualizations 2012-11-30 | Plumes of moisture stream across the entire Pacific basin and head toward the U.S. coastline. Over the first week of December 2012, over a foot of rain is expected to fall in parts of Northern California and up into British Columbia.This animation shows the total precipitable water in the atmosphere for November 28 - December 6, 2012 using the NOAA Global Forecast System model - one of the main weather models used by forecasters across the world. Dark blues are areas of high moisture content in the atmosphere. The large "tongues" of moisture can be seen extending thousands of miles across the ocean.
The 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season in 4.5 Minutes NOAAVisualizations 2012-11-29 | After 19 named storms (10 hurricanes), the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season has come to a close. This season was a relatively active one -- with 7 more storms than the historical average. Though the official season lasts from June 1 -- November 30th, 2012 started off early with Alberto and Beryl appearing in May. Later on, Isaac pummeled the Gulf Coast, and in October, Sandy caused destruction throughout the Northeast.This animation shows all of the GOES East satellite imagery from June 1 -- November 28th. In September, NOAA was able to quickly transition GOES East from the GOES-13 to the backup GOES-14 satellite when problems arose with the GOES-13 imager. GOES-13 returned to service in mid-October. Slight shifts in the imagery in this animation can be seen in late September out in the eastern Atlantic, however it is also clear that no service was lost during this transition. During the 2012 Season, NOAA also began ingesting data from the newly launched Suomi-NPP satellite into the operational forecast models, providing more accurate measurements of atmospheric properties to better predict storm intensification and movement.
NOAA National Weather Service Accurately Predicted Sandys Path NOAAVisualizations 2012-11-06 | Five days before Sandy made landfall along the New Jersey coastline, NOAA's National Hurricane Center accurately projected the storm's path. This satellite animation shows Sandy's progress from the southwest Atlantic northward into the Northeast U.S. and how it followed the National Hurricane Center's track issued at 11 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 25 (Advisory #13). This movie's imagery is from GOES East from October 21, 2012 0345Z through October 31, 2012 1315Z and uses the track file located at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gis/forecast/archive/al182012_5day_013.zip
High Speed Satellite Imagery of Hurricane Sandy NOAAVisualizations 2012-10-29 | As the NOAA GOES-13 satellite provides on-going operational coverage of Hurricane Sandy, a special Super Rapid Scan Operations (SRSO) has been scheduled for GOES-14, NOAA's backup geostationary weather satellite. Focusing just on the area of the storm, the GOES-14 SRSO is capturing infrared and visible data every minute and relaying that information to forecasters on the ground. This animation shows the GOES-14 SRSO for October 29, 2012 as Hurricane Sandy is approaching the U.S. coastline. The GOES-14 SRSO imagery is intended for research purposes in preparation for the next generation of geostationary satellites, called GOES-R. Highly detailed cloud structures can be seen in this imagery, along with precise tracking of the center of circulation.
NOAA Changes GOES Satellite Positions in Space NOAAVisualizations 2012-10-01 | NOAA's geostationary satellites are typically centered over 75 degrees west longitude (GOES East) and 135 degrees (GOES West). However, when the satellite in the GOES East position began having data quality issues, the backup satellite GOES-14 was called into service. From its position at 105 degrees west longitude, it has been acting as GOES East for the past week. NOAA has decided that it is time to move GOES-14 into the traditional GOES East spot in space, replacing GOES-13. The maneuver begins October 1, 2012 and will take 33 days. At that time, GOES-13 will be moved into a storage spot where work to diagnose and fix the data quality issues from the imager and sounder instruments will continue.
The Arctics Record Breaking Ice Melt NOAAVisualizations 2012-09-17 | The sea ice in the Arctic Ocean dropped below the previous all-time record set in 2007. This year also marks the first time that there has been less than 4 million square kilometers (1.54 million square miles) of sea ice since satellite observations began in 1979. This animation shows the 2012 time-series of ice extent using sea ice concentration data from the DMSP SSMI/S satellite sensor. The black area represents the daily average (median) sea ice extent over the 1979-2000 time period. Layered over top of that are the daily satellite measurements from January 1 -- September 14, 2012. A rapid melt begins in July, whereby the 2012 ice extents fall far below the historical average. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (www.nsidc.org) will confirm the final minimum ice extent data and area once the melt stabilizes, usually in mid-September.
Hurricane Isaac Super Rapid Scan Imagery August 24-29, 2012 NOAAVisualizations 2012-08-30 | GOES-14 has been placed in Super Rapid Scan Mode to support research and development efforts on the next generation of geostationary satellites. This movie shows the visible channel one minute imagery of Isaac from August 24 through landfall on August 28 into August 29, 2012.
Super Rapid Scan Imagery of Isaac at Landfall NOAAVisualizations 2012-08-29 | Hurricane Isaac made landfall in Louisiana in the evening of August 28, 2012. During the day, NOAA's GOES-14 satellite took images of the storm at 1 minute intervals, showing the development of Isaac from a tropical storm to a hurricane in great temporal detail. The imagery is from the visible channel and runs from August 28 at 1008Z through August 29 at 0055Z.
GOES-14 Super Rapid Scan Imagery of Isaac NOAAVisualizations 2012-08-28 | GOES-14 has been placed in Super Rapid Scan Mode to support research and development efforts on the next generation of geostationary satellites. This movie shows the visible channel one minute imagery of Isaac from August 24 through August 27, 2012.
Following Isaacs Center of Circulation August 21-27, 2012 NOAAVisualizations 2012-08-27 | This combination of GOES East infrared and visible channel imagery follows Isaac's center of circulation across the Caribbean Sea starting August 21 at 0030Z and ends August 27, 2012 at 1445Z.
Extended Drought Conditions in the United States NOAAVisualizations 2012-07-18 | By early July 2012, more than 60% of the contiguous United States was experiencing drought conditions, nearly double the area from early January. This animation shows monthly composites of D1 to D4 categories of drought in the contiguous U.S. over the time frame January 2012 to July 2012 using data from the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor summary map identifies general drought areas, labeling droughts by intensity, with D1 (lightest color) being the least intense and D4 (darkest color) being the most intense.
