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Hurricane

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Matthew was the first Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in almost ten years.

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Its torrential rains and winds caused significant damage and loss of life,

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as it coursed through the Caribbean and up along the southern U.S. coast.

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NASA researchers use a combination of satellite

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observations and computer models to recreate a multidimensional picture 

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of the hurricane in order to study the complex atmospheric interactions.

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Starting on September 29th,

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2016, Matthew strengthened from a Category 1 to a Category 5

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hurricane in less than 24 hours with winds reaching 160 miles per hour.

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By combining overpasses by the Global Precipitation

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Measurement Core Observatory satellite with those of other GPM partner

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satellites, the half-hourly IMERG precipitation product tracked

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the intensification of Hurricane Matthew.

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At peak intensity, Matthew's rainfall showed a massive region of heavy rain

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just north of the eye. Using the radar data from the GPM Core

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Observatory allowed us to slice through the storm to see this feature, as well

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as the expected snow and ice high atop the hurricane.

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As the hurricane's movement shifted from westward to northward, Matthew paused.

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The persistent surface winds swirling counterclockwise created drag

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that pushed the warm surface waters away from the eye's location.

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As a result, the cooler ocean water upwelled, raising it to

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the surface. However, the upwelling did not last long and the cooler water sank

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and warmer water moved back in as Matthew headed toward Haiti.

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Winds around Matthew accentuated heavy

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rainfall, drenching Haiti and the Dominican Republic on the windward side

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of the mountains.

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As Matthew moved northward

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an eyewall replacement cycle was visible. The GPM Core

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satellite observed the concentric eyewalls as the tighter, more intense inner eyewall

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was replaced by a new, broader eye.

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As Hurricane Matthew approached Florida and

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hugged the coast, heavy rains saturated the soil.

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On October 8th, Matthew approached North Carolina,

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which was already battered by previous thunderstorms. The addition

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of Matthew's rainfall and storm surge created significant flooding.

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The GPM Core Observatory satellite captured one final pass

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of a Category 2 Hurricane Matthew. No longer driven

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by the heavy convective clouds around its center, Matthew underwent

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extratropical transition on October 9th. The hurricane moved out into the

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Atlantic before dissipating completely.

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Combining model and observed data from multiple sensors is a powerful tool

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for better analyzing hurricanes and can provide clues to how future storms

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may behave and interact with their environment, as well as their potential impact

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on society.

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