NASA On Air: NASA Tracks Overshooting Tops Of Thunderstorms (5/5/2016)

  • Released Thursday, May 5, 2016
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LEAD: NASA Scientists and engineers at Langley Research center have developed quick methods of detecting severe thunderstorms from satellite measurements.

1. These storms often have a signature cauliflower shape- the overshooting top- that indicates powerful updrafts associated with generating hazardous weather such as damaging winds, hail, or tornadoes.

2. This example shows NASA forecast computer quickly detecting the 'overshooting tops' by measuring reflected sunlight and cloud top temperatures. This information will be especially useful for aircraft pilots over oceans and forecasters in developing countries where there are no Doppler radar systems.

TAG: The new weather satellite, GOES-R, to be launched by NASA, in October 2016 will help forecasters utilized this method to deliver more accurate severe weather forecasts. This method was designed for GOES-R but it can operate on any satellite measurement across the globe.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/feature/langley/nasa-researchers-improve-hazardous-weather-forecasts

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Thursday, May 5, 2016.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:48 PM EDT.