December 29th, 2012 Category: Tropical Storms

Tropical Storm 06S – December 27th, 2012

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Track of TS 06S

During 26 December, TCWC Perth started to monitor a weak tropical low that had developed about 1,265 km (785 mi) to the southeast of Jakarta, Indonesia. Over the next couple of days the low moved towards the south-southwest and gradually developed further before the JTWC declared it Tropical Cyclone 06S on 28 December.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell (TC 06S), located approximately 365 nm north- northwest of Learmonth, Australia, has tracked southward at 07 knots over the past six hours. Maximum significant wave height is 12 feet.

Animated infrared satellite imagery depicts a consolidating low-level circulation center (LLCC) with tightly-curved deep convective banding wrapping into the system. The deep convective banding is located primarily over the southern and western semi-circles with shallow banding elsewhere.

The initial intensity is assessed at 40 knots, which is slightly lower than the Dvorak estimates of 45 knots, based on the recent weakening of core convection evidenced by warming cloud top temperatures over the past few hours. There is good confidence in the initial position and recent track motion. Mitchell is located within a favorable environment with good poleward outflow enhanced by an upper-low over southwest Australia.

The system is forecast to continue tracking south-southwestward through tau 48 along the western periphery of the subtropical ridge. TC 06S is forecast to intensify through TAU 12 due to continued favorable conditions. However, the system is expected to weaken rapidly as it tracks south of 20S due to cooler SSTs (24 to 26ºC). Mitchell is expected to dissipate by TAU 48.

Tags: 06S Australia Indonesia Mitchell Tropical Cyclone | Comments |

September 29th, 2012 Category: Volcanoes

Indonesia – August 31st, 2012

The chain of islands on the right side of this image belong to the northern archipelago of the Lesser Sunda Islands, including Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Wetar. The archipelago is volcanic in origin, with a number of still active volcanoes, such as Mount Rinjani on Lombok. Others, however, such as Kelimutu, on Flores, are extinct.

Visible on the left side of the image, west of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, is the island of Java. Formed mostly as the result of volcanic eruptions, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in Indonesia. A chain of volcanic mountains, easily visible in this image, forms an east-west spine along the island.

Tags: Bali Flores Indonesia Java Lesser Sunda Islands Lombok Sumbawa Volcanoes Wetar | Comments |

August 6th, 2012 Category: Sediments

Indonesia – August 5th, 2012

Tan sediments pour outwards, generally in a westerly direction, from Pulau Yos Sudarso, an island in Papua province, Indonesia. It is separated only by narrow channels from the main island of New Guinea. It also known as Pulau Dolok, Pulau Dolak and Pulau Kimaam. The island is leaf shaped, about 165 km long with an area of 11,600 km².

Tags: Indonesia Papua Pulau Dolak Pulau Dolok Pulau Kimaam Pulau Yos Sudarso | Comments |

April 2nd, 2012 Category: Image of the day, Vegetation Index

Australia - April 1st, 2012

This FAPAR image shows the vegetation index of the Cape York Peninsula, in the far north of Queensland, Australia (below) and the island of New Guinea (above). About half of the land of the Cape York Peninsula is flat and used for grazing livestock, however there are also relatively undisturbed eucalyptus wooded savannahs and tropical rainforests. Here, most of the peninsula shows a good (green) vegetation index. Papua, Indonesia (upper left) shows the highest vegetation index (rusty red), while Papua New Guinea (upper right) is slightly lower although higher than the Cape York Peninsula to the south.

Tags: Australia Cape York Peninsula FAPAR Indonesia New Guinea Papua New Guinea Queensland | Comments |