In 2020, there were a record 30 named hurricanes in the
Atlantic.
Hurricanes occur in the warmer months when the ocean
temperature rises.
NASA monitors and tracks hurricanes through
Earth-Observing satellites. These
instruments allow NASA to see things like the movement of
storms at night, rainfall rates, surface wind speed, cloud
heights, ocean heat, and humidity.
All the data collected is free and accessible to the public, so
regional and local governments as well as federal agencies like
FEMA can better prepare for hurricanes in advance, leading
to more efficient relief action.
NASA also tracks the long term changes of hurricanes. As human
caused climate change appears to be strengthening the strongest
storms. More storms are increasing in strength within a
24-hour period, which is a process called rapid
intensification. In 2020, a record-tying nine storms rapidl
intensified
NASA has developed a machine learning model that could more
accurately detect rapidly intensifying storms, with the
goal of giving people more time to prepare for high intensity
storms and flooding.
In addition to rapid intensification, storms are
stalling, or moving forward mor slowly, making them mor
destructive
These hurricanes can slow to just a few miles an hour,
dumping rain and fierce winds on one location at a time.
Using satellites NASA also helps to assess the aftermath of
storms. In 2020, NASA's Disasters program provided data
to groups in Alabama, Louisiana, and Central America to identify
regions significantly affected by hurricanes, like which
neighborhoods remain dark with no power. This helps to both
identify vulnerable communities and make informed decisions
about where to send resources.
Hurricanes can displace entire cities of people whose homes or
neighborhoods are destroyed and cause millions of dollars worth
f damage every year.
In addition to on-the-ground relief, it's important to
continue to monitor hurricane behavior and characteristics so
that weather models can more accurately predict the magnitude
and trajectory of storms.
When it comes to hurricanes, our eyes in the sky can provide
critical data to help keep people in the know and out of
harm's way.