NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7

11. Question and Answer
	+ View video + Download Quick Time

---

12. Forecasting Hurricane Intensification
	Successfully forecasting a hurricane saves both property and human lives. This video outlines how scientists study hurricane forecasting. Using mathematical models, hurricane researchers can now usually pinpoint to within a few kilometers where a hurricane will hit, even days before it makes landfall. Predicting changes in storm intensity remains a challenge however, and as a result continues to be a major area of study. NASA’s Total Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is one of the forecasters’ most important tools. + View video + Download Quick Time
National Standards: D.1, 5-8; students should develop an understanding of structure of the earth system. D.1, 9-12; students should develop an understanding of energy in the earth system.

---

13. The Cost of Evacuation
	When issuing coastal hurricane warnings, forecasters must carefully balance the huge loss of revenue that communities must encumber ($1M per mile evacuated) with the potentially catastrophic loss of life if warnings are not issued. Because forecast hurricane track has associated error, forecasters generally over-warn by a factor of about 60-70%. + View video + Download Quick Time
Media Content: N/A National Standards: F.3, 5-8 students should develop understanding of natural hazards F.5, 5-8 students should develop understanding of science/technology in society F.2, 9-12 students should develop understanding of population growth F.5, 9-12 students should develop understanding of natural and human-induced hazards

---

14. NASA’s TRMM Satellite
	NASA's TRMM satellite, containing the first weather radar to fly in space, is used by scientists to take a CAT scan of a hurricane - revealing the inner, vertical rain structure - while most other satellites can only report information about the tops of the storm's cloud shield. + View video + Download Quick Time
Media Content: An important NASA satellite was launched in 1997 to study tropical rainfall, called the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission or TRMM. The satellite has instruments that probe the interior of deep thunderstorm clouds with microwave energy. Pulses of microwave energy are transmitted inside the clouds. The microwave passes through the cloud, but is intercepted by and scattered off the larger raindrops and falling ice particles. The microwave energy bounces back to the TRMM satellite where it is detected. + Download media National Standards: E.2, K-4: students should develop understanding about science and technology. D.1, 5-8; students should develop an understanding of structure of the earth system. D.1, 9-12; students should develop an understanding of energy in the earth system.

---

15. A Look Inside a Hurricane
	Since 1997, NASA scientists have used the TRMM satellite to identify exceptionally deep thunderclouds, called chimney clouds, which release tremendous amounts of energy. NASA studies now show that when these clouds are present, the storm will most likely begin intensifying in the next 24 hours. These clues may give forecasters valuable lead-time to warn vulnerable populations. + View video + Download Quick Time
Media Content: Now, like peeling away the outer layers of an onion, the core of a hurricane's heaviest rains can be revealed by the TRMM satellite. The very heaviest rains, shown in red, occur close to the eye and this is where most of the warm heat energy is being released inside the storm core. The heavier the rain, the more energy is being released. NASA scientists have indeed found a promising relationship between the height of the tallest chimney clouds and the likelihood of a storm intensifying suddenly. In fact, if the clouds are taller than 14 km, over 70% of the time the storm will begin to grow more intense. + Download media Ever since TRMM has crossed paths with many storms, NASA scientists discovered that chimney clouds were a fairly common feature of early storms about to undergo rapid intensification. This movie shows an example of a towering chimney cloud inside the inner core of Hurricane Bonnie (1998). + Download media National Standards: E.2, K-4: students should develop understanding about science and technology. D.1, 5-8; students should develop an understanding of structure of the earth system. D.1, 9-12; students should develop an understanding of energy in the earth system.

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7