A NASA infrared look at the Southern Indian Ocean's 15th tropical cyclone
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone 15S in the Southern Indian Ocean and obtained temperature data on the cloud tops, enabling scientists to see where the strongest part of the storm was located.
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite looked at Tropical Cyclone 15S in infrared light. Infrared light provides scientists with temperature data and that's important when trying to understand how strong storms can be. The higher the cloud tops, the colder and the stronger the storms that make up a tropical cyclone.
NASA's Aqua satellite flew over Tropical Cyclone 15S on April 6 at 0605 UTC (2:05 a.m. EST). AIRS detected strongest storms around the center of circulation with cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius). Storms with cloud top temperatures that cold have the capability to produce heavy rainfall.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center or JTWC stated on April 6 at 0900 UTC (5 a.m. EST) newly formed Tropical Cyclone 15S had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/62 kph). 15S was centered near 13.5 degrees south latitude and 110.7 degrees east longitude, about 572 nautical miles (658 miles/1,059 km) north-northwest of Learmonth, Australia. 15S was moving to the south-southwest at 4 knots (4.6 mph/7.4 kph) away from Australia.
The JTWC noted "Upper level atmospheric analysis Indicates the system is in an area of strong westerly vertical wind shear. Additionally, a mid-latitude trough or elongated area of low pressure is causing subsidence along the southwestern quadrant (of the storm)." Subsidence means sinking air, and that prevents cloud formation as air has to rise in order to condense to form clouds and the thunderstorms that make up a tropical cyclone.
Tropical Cyclone 15S is moving along the northwestern edge of an elongated area of subtropical high pressure, which is located southeast of the storm. That means that 15S expected to continue tracking south-southwestward around that high pressure area, turning more to the west as the high pressure builds.
JWTC forecasts this system will be short-lived because vertical wind shear will increase in the direction the storm is heading. It is expected to dissipate in three days by April 9.
Provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA imepiga picha ya kimbunga cha 15 cha kimbunga cha Tropical Cyclone 15S katika bahari ya India, na kugundua hali ya hewa ya mawingu, na hivyo kuweza kuona sehemu ya kimbunga. Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) ni kifaa cha NASA kilichotumiwa kuchunguza kimbunga cha 15S katika mwangaza wa infrared. Nuru ya infrared hutoa wanasayansi data ya joto na hiyo ni muhimu wakati wa kujaribu kuelewa jinsi dhoruba zinaweza kuwa na nguvu. Kadiri mawingu yanavyokuwa juu, ndivyo dhoruba zinazofanyiza kimbunga cha kitropiki zinavyokuwa baridi zaidi na zenye nguvu zaidi. Satellite ya NASA ya Aqua iliruka juu ya Kimbunga cha Tropical 15S Aprili 6 saa 0605 UTC. AIRS iligundua dhoruba kali zaidi karibu na kituo cha mzunguko na joto la juu la wingu kama baridi kama minus 63 ° F (minus 53 ° C). Dhoruba zenye joto la juu la mawingu ambalo ni baridi zina uwezo wa kutokeza mvua nyingi. Kituo cha Jicho cha Jicho cha Taifu (JTWC) kilitangaza tarehe 6 Aprili saa 09:00 UTC (saa 5 asubuhi EST) kwamba Kimbunga cha Tropiki 15S kilikuwa na upepo wa juu wa karibu na knots 35 (mph 40). 15S ilikuwa karibu na 13.5 ° latitudo ya kusini na 110.7 ° longitudo ya mashariki, karibu 572 nautical maili (km 658), kaskazini-kaskazini magharibi mwa Learmonth, Australia. "Siri ya 15S ilikuwa ikisonga kuelekea kusini-magharibi kwa mwendo wa ""4 knots"" (mpaka saa 4.6 mph) kutoka Australia." "JTWC ilisema: ""Uchambuzi wa anga ya juu unaonyesha mfumo uko katika eneo lenye upepo mkali wa magharibi." Kwa kuongezea, eneo la chini la shinikizo la chini linalotokea katikati ya latitudo husababisha kuzama kwa ardhi kwenye sehemu ya kusini-magharibi ya dhoruba hiyo." Uvujaji wa hewa huathiri hali ya hewa, na kuzuia uundaji wa mawingu, kwani hewa inapaswa kuongezeka ili kuunganisha na kuunda mawingu na dhoruba za radi ambazo huunda kimbunga cha kitropiki. Kimbunga cha 15S kinasonga kwenye ukingo wa kaskazini magharibi wa eneo la shinikizo la juu la kitropiki, ambalo liko kusini mashariki mwa dhoruba. "Hiyo inamaanisha kwamba 15S inatarajiwa kuendelea kufuatilia kusini-kusini magharibi karibu na eneo hilo la shinikizo la juu, ikigeuka zaidi magharibi wakati shinikizo la juu linajengwa. """ JWTC inatarajia mfumo huu utakuwa wa muda mfupi kwa sababu upepo wa wima utaongezeka katika mwelekeo wa dhoruba. Inatarajiwa kutoweka katika siku tatu kufikia Aprili 9. NASA na Kituo cha Ndege za Angani cha Goddard