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Hurricane Season 2008: 27W (Western Pacific)
 
Dec. 12, 2008

Tropical Cyclone 27W Now a "Dolphin" Playing in Open Western Pacific Waters

AIRS image of Tropical Cyclone 27W Credit: NASA JPL/ Ed Olsen
> Larger image Tropical Cyclone 27W has been given the name Dolphin, now that its reached tropical storm strength in the open waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Tropical Storm Dolphin was 290 nautical miles north-northeast of Yap. Yap is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia.

On Dec. 12 at 12:00 Zulu Time (7 a.m. EST), Tropical Storm Dolphin had sustained winds near 40 knots (46 mph), and was located near 14.1 north and 139.2 east. It was moving west-northwestward near 10 knots (11 mph) the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported. It will continue on a westward track over the weekend of Dec. 13-14 on its way toward the Philippines sometime during the week of Dec. 15.

NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured Tropical Storm Dolphin's cloud temperatures as it romped in the open waters. AIRS produced this infrared image on Dec. 11 at 10:29 p.m. EST (Dec. 12 at 3:29 UTC).

The infrared image shows the frigid cloud top temperatures, giving forecasters a clue to the storm's strength. The coldest temperatures (and highest cloud tops) shown in purple are as cold as 220 degrees Kelvin or minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (F) or colder. The lower clouds are depicted as the blue areas, which are around 240 degrees Kelvin, or minus 27F.

Text Credit: Rob Gutro/NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Dec. 10, 2008

Tropical Depression 27W Forms in Western Pacific Ocean

AIRS image of Tropical Depression 27W> Larger image
Credit: NASA JPL/ Ed Olsen The twenty-seventh tropical depression has formed in the Western Pacific Ocean. Tropical Depression 27W was 360 nautical miles east of Guam on Dec. 10 and moving westward at 13 knots (14 mph). It is on a westward path to the Philippines by mid-week next week.

On Dec. 10 at 15:00 Zulu Time (10 a.m. EST), 27W had sustained winds near 25 knots (28 mph), and was located near 12.4 north and 150.1 east. It was moving westward. Wind imagery from NASA's QuikScat satellite indicated that the low level circulation center "has begun to rapidly consolidate with 25 knot (28 mph) winds beginning to wrap into the center on the southern periphery of the storm with stronger winds on the northern side of the system," the Joint Typhoon Warning Center reported.

NASA's Aqua Satellite Sees Depression 27W NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured 27W's cloud temperatures as it is beginning to get organized. Looking at this image, the round circulation isn't even apparent yet. AIRS produced this infrared image on Dec. 9 at 10:41 p.m. EST (Dec. 10 at 3:41 UTC).

The infrared image shows the frigid cloud top temperatures, giving forecasters a clue to the storm's strength. The coldest temperatures (and highest cloud tops) are normally shown in purple, but the clouds aren't that high yet, as the storm is still weak and getting organized. Purple colored areas are as cold as 220 degrees Kelvin or minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (F) or colder. Currently, the entire system consists of lower clouds depicted as the blue areas. Those areas are around 240 degrees Kelvin, or minus 27F.

Text Credit: Rob Gutro/NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
 
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