September 2nd, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Tropical Cyclones

Hurricane Earl (07L) - September 1st, 2010

Track of TS 07L

At 8:00 PM EDT (00:00 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Earl (07L) was located near latitude 27.2 North, longitude 73.5 West. Earl is moving toward the north-northwest near 18 mph (30 km/hr).

This motion is expected to continue tonight with a turn to the north on Thursday. On the forecast track, the core of the hurricane will approach the North Carolina coast by late Thursday, and move near or over the Outer Banks of that state by Thursday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 135 mph (215 km/hr) with higher gusts.E arl is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely tonight and Thursday, but a gradual weakening trend is anticipated thereafter.

Earl is a large hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 90 miles (150 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles (325 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 941 mb (27.79 inches).

There are various hazards affecting land. Tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the North Carolina coast within the warning area by Thursday afternoon with hurricane force winds occurring by late Thursday. Tropical storm force winds will likely reach the coast from Virginia northward to New Jersey by late Thursday night or early Friday.

A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above ground level within the hurricane warning
area and the lower Chesapeake Bay. Elsewhere within the tropical storm warning area, a storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches, are expected over portions of eastern North Carolina including the Outer Banks. With regards to surf, large swells from Earl will continue to affect the Bahamas
and the east coast of the United States through Friday. These swells will likely cause dangerous surf conditions and rip currents.

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September 1st, 2010 Category: Lakes, Mountains, Rivers

Mexico - August 4th, 2010

The Laguna Madre (meaning “Mother Lagoon” in Spanish), in the upper right corner, appears silvery in color due to sun glint. The lagoon is actually two long, shallow bays along the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in  both the USA and Mexico. The two bays are separated by the mouth of the Rio Grande.

An area of green coastal plains can be observed to the west of the lagoon. Further west lies the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, whose peaks appear darker brown and more marked as one moves southward. Some areas of white and tan arid terrain can be seen further to the west and to the north.

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August 29th, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Tropical Cyclones

Hurricane Danielle (06L) - August 28th, 2010

Enhanced image

Track of TS 06L

The center of Hurricane Danielle (06L) is located near 30.3°N 59.7°W, about 330 miles (535 km) east-southeast of Bermuda.

The minimum central pressure is estimated to be 970 mbar (hPa, 28.64 inHg) and the storm is moving north-northeast at 13 mph (20 km/h).

Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 105 mph (165 km/h), with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km) from the center of Danielle, and hurricane force winds extend up to 70 miles (110 km) from the center.

Very high surf and rip currents are likely in Bermuda, along the East Coast of the United States and the coast of Atlantic Canada over the next few days.

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August 27th, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Tropical Cyclones

Tropical Storm Danielle (06L) - August 26th, 2010

Enhanced image

Track of TS 06L

Swells from Hurricane Danielle (06L) are expected to affect portions of the United States east coast starting Friday. The system is currently located near 25.8N 57.6W, about 625 mi (1005 km) southeast of Bermuda.

Danielle is moving toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 km/hr) and a gradual turn toward the north-northwest and north is expected during the next couple of days. On this track, the center of Danielle is expected to remain well east of Bermuda.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 110 mph (175 km/hr) with higher gusts. Danielle is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. Danielle is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 50 miles (85 km) from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 205 miles (335 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 965 mb (28.50 inches).

Hazards affecting land could include large and dangerous surf conditions in Bermuda during the next few days. Swells from Danielle will begin to arrive on the east coast of the United States on Friday. Large surf and dangerous rip currents are expected throughout the weekend.

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August 20th, 2010 Category: Volcanoes

USA- August 14th, 2010

This orthorectified image shows Mount Veniaminof, an active stratovolcano located on the Alaska Peninsula. Veniaminof has one of the highest elevations of Alaskan volcanoes. Partly for this reason, it is covered by a glacier that fills most of the caldera.

The volcano’s caldera was created by a colossal eruption around 1750 BC. In modern times the volcano has had numerous small eruptions (over ten of them since 1930); these are located at a cinder cone in the middle of the caldera. The Alaska Volcano Observatory, however, currently rates Veniaminof at Volcano Alert Level normal.

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August 18th, 2010 Category: Clouds, Image of the day

USA - August 29th, 2010

The western coast of the United States of America, parallel to California’s Great Central Valley, is lined by thick white clouds. This is a common occurrence in the area due to a combination of atmospheric and oceanographic conditions.

Visible in the lower half of the image are a series of lines in those clouds, creating an almost asterisk-like shape. These long, linear cloud formations are known as ship tracks, since they form when water molecules gather around the exhaust released into the air by passing ships. The phenomenon is similar to that of condensation trails in the air from passing jets.

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August 17th, 2010 Category: Rivers

USA- August 29th, 2010

Fog or smoke from wildfires in hovers in the air over Puget Sound (upper left quadrant), in Washington State, USA, near the border with Canada.  Clouds can also be seen hugging the Pacific coastline and moving over parts of the fertile green land near the shore.

As one moves inland, this dark green turns to golden brown. Areas of green agriculture can be seen across the region, however, particularly near the Snake River. The river flows westwards through the Snake River Plain, and turns north to empty into the Columbia River in the state of Washington.

Steep mountains, low hills, deep canyons and predominantly, the flat alluvium of the Snake River Plain characterize the geologically diverse and active watershed of the Snake River.

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August 5th, 2010 Category: Lakes, Rivers

USA - June 29th, 2010

Several lakes and rivers can be observed in this image of the states of North and South Dakota in northern central USA. The body of water in the upper left corner is Lake Sakakawea, a reservoir along the Missouri River in central North Dakota. The lake appears golden with sediments in some parts.

Flowing mostly horizontally across the bottom left part of the image is the Cheyenne River, a tributary of the Missouri River in the states of Wyoming and South Dakota. It flows into the Missouri in Lake Oahe, a large reservoir beginning in central South Dakota and continuing north into North Dakota.

The lake and parts of the Missouri River near it appear mostly blue, although the Cheyenne River flowing into it is tan with sediments.

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July 29th, 2010 Category: Image of the day, Lakes, Mountains

USA - July 3rd, 2010

While most of the eastern United States of America appears green in this summer image, several cities stand out as greyish or light tan patches. One of the most prominent of these is New York City, located at the western end of Long Island, both the longest and the largest island in the contiguous United States.

Also visible northeast of New York City are Providence, in the state of Rhode Island, and Boston, in Massachusetts. Both are situated along the coastline. Southwest of New York City are Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, Baltimore, in Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Other important features of the image include Lake Ontario (upper left quadrant), on the border of the USA and Canada, and the Appalachian Mountains, running up the left side.

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