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Nasa satellite images: Hurricane "Dorian" looks like this from inside

2019-09-06T16:34:31.382Z


A mini NASA satellite has thrown an impressive look inside the hurricane "Dorian". The images reveal the destructive power of the cyclone.



Although the tropical cyclone "Dorian" has left the Bahamas, the full extent of the destruction is far from over. At least 30 people were killed, but local authorities expect significantly more deaths. Now "Dorian" has reached the coast of the USA - with wind speeds of 150 kilometers per hour.

A NASA satellite image shows the inside of the devastating cyclone. The pictures are from mid of this week. The four individual layers illustrate where the strongest air swirls are pushing upwards within the hurricane. The pink, red and yellow areas represent the areas with the heaviest rainfall.

NASA / JPL-Caltech / NRL MRY

The weather satellite that took the pictures is about the size of a cereal box. He has the mini version of a microwave radiometer that can measure rain and moisture in clouds. NASA plans a number of such minisatellites to detect storms around the world.

The production of so-called CubeSats is significantly cheaper than the larger satellites. "They could significantly improve the observation and forecasting of storms worldwide," said NASA.

Energy performance: Up to 200 trillion watts

For hurricanes to develop, it takes several factors: a windstilles low pressure area above the sea and warm water temperatures over 26 degrees. Then evaporated water rises, condenses and forms into large clouds.

Put simply, the storm takes up huge amounts of energy through the water: rising and condensing creates a vacuum that pushes it forward. As a result, more and more air flows upwards and is finally whirled around. A pronounced hurricane can release an energy output of 50 to 200 trillion watts. The majority of it occurs as heat.

Due to the climate crisis, hurricanes will not necessarily increase, but they could reach higher intensities, climate scientists believe. Experts are already discussing whether a new, higher category for hurricanes should be introduced. (Here you can read more about it.)

Hurricane "Dorian" The energy monster off the US coast

Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has downgraded "Dorian" to the lowest hurricane category 1. The storm remains threatening anyway. The North Carolina authorities reported more than 70 closed roads on Friday morning before the storm hit. On Thursday evening, floods had already hit the coast of South Carolina. Many houses were covered, trees and power pylons toppled, as reported by local media.

For the ongoing hurricane season, which lasts until the end of November, the National Weather Service has predicted five to nine hurricanes with a probability of 70 percent, up to four could reach a high intensity.

Source: spiegel

All tech articles on 2019-09-06

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