While NOAA and the National Hurricane Center have been keeping people updated about the category 5 hurricane that has been causing catastrophic damage and danger for the Bahamas this past weekend, NASA has been tracking the storm’s progress from the International Space Station for research.
NASA’s hurricane research team out of Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland in coordination with the International Space Station uses NASA satellite data to track Hurricanes.
NASA Storm Research
NASA’s involvement with storm data differs from data and storm tracking done by NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA tracks storms to provide reliable storm information to “citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision makers . . . as they need it.”
NASA, however, uses storm data to learn more about the science behind storms; how and why they develop so we can better understand how the storms work and how they follow the laws of physics.
How NASA Tracks and Monitors Storms
According to NASA Earth, “NASA uses data from satellites and computer models to better understand the physics of storms and how form and develop.”
For Hurricane Dorian, three different NASA satellites are collecting data from the storm including cameras that detect infrared and microwave radiation to map atmospheric temperatures.
ISS Astronauts Observe Dorian
NASA Astronaut Christina Koch shared a series of pictures from her view on the ISS while expressing her heartfelt desire of safety for all those in the storm’s path.
NASA Astronaut Nick Hague shared a photo with twitter on Monday September 2 stating, “You can feel the power of the storm when you stare into tis eye from above. Stay safe everyone!”
Additionally, Astronaut Andrew Morgan shared a harrowing photo that shows the immensity of Hurricane Dorian.
If you are along Hurricane Dorian’s path, don’t forget to check the National Hurricane Center and your local National Weather Service website for further information regarding warnings, advisories, and additional resources.
