NASA's GPM measures meandering Tropical Depression Ida's precipitation
On Sept. 24, NASA/JAXA's GPM satellite saw some storms in Ida were dropping heavy rainfall at a rate of 122 mm (4.8 inches) per hour. Some storm tops reache 15 kilometers (9.3 miles). Credits: SSAI/NASA/JAXA, Hal Pierce
GPM is a satellite jointly managed by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. GPM passed over Ida on September 24, 2015 at 0756 UTC (3:35 AM EDT).
Measurements of precipitation by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instruments showed that Ida still contained a few embedded strong convective thunderstorms that were dropping heavy rainfall. Some rainfall was measured by GPM's Ku Band radar falling at a rate of 122 mm (4.8 inches) per hour.
GPM's 3-D radar reflectivity data (DPR Ku band) can be used to reveal the intensity of rain showers embedded within a tropical cyclone. Measurements of Ida, a tropical storm at the time GPM passed overhead, showed that isolated thunderstorms had storm tops reaching heights of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) and intense rain showers.
At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Depression Ida was located near latitude 21.7 North, longitude 45.3 West. That's about 1,180 miles (1,900 km) east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands
Ida was moving toward the north-northwest near 3 mph (6 kph), and Ida is expected to turn to the northwest late on September 25. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 millibars.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 kph) and the National Hurricane Center expects some weakening over the next two days. Ida is expected to become a remnant low over the weekend.
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Physics and Astronomy
This area deals with the fundamental laws and building blocks of nature and how they interact, the properties and the behavior of matter, and research into space and time and their structures.
innovations-report provides in-depth reports and articles on subjects such as astrophysics, laser technologies, nuclear, quantum, particle and solid-state physics, nanotechnologies, planetary research and findings (Mars, Venus) and developments related to the Hubble Telescope.
Newest articles
A new puzzle piece for string theory research
Dr. Ksenia Fedosova from the Cluster of Excellence Mathematics Münster, along with an international research team, has proven a conjecture in string theory that physicists had proposed regarding certain equations….
Climate change can cause stress in herring larvae
The occurrence of multiple stressors undermines the acclimatisation strategies of juvenile herring: If larvae are exposed to several stress factors at the same time, their ability to respond to these…
Making high-yielding rice affordable and sustainable
Plant biologists show how two genes work together to trigger embryo formation in rice. Rice is a staple food crop for more than half the world’s population, but most farmers…