NASA satellite data shows Hurricane Maria's strongest side

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument

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aboard NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Maria on Sept. 25 at 2:11 p.m. EDT (1811 UTC) and analyzed the storm 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 they are. So infrared light as that gathered by the AIRS instrument can identify the strongest sides of a tropical cyclone. The AIRS image clearly showed the bulk of strong storms in Maria's northeastern quadrant as well as in the storms surrounding the eye.

Cloud top temperatures in thunderstorms around the eyewall 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.

On Sept. 27, the National Hurricane Center noted "the satellite presentation of Maria has continued to slowly degrade over the past 24 hours, as deep convection is now confined to thesoutheastern portion of the circulation."

AIRS data also showed cooler sea surface temperatures, which are expected to help weaken Maria.

At the same time as the AIRS image, another instrument aboard Aqua called MODIS, or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer took a visible light image of Maria. In the visible image, Maria's eye was covered by high clouds.

Warnings in Effect on September 26, 2017

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) posted a Storm Surge Warning for Ocracoke Inlet to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bogue Inlet to the North Carolina/Virginia border, and for the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-09-nasa-satellite-hurricane-maria-strongest.html#jCp