Three days of NASA infrared images show System 92S tropically developing

3 days of NASA infrared images show System 92S tropically developing
The AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared imagery on developing System 92S in the Mozambique Channel (Indian Ocean). On February 25 at 0941 UTC, System 92S was moving west toward Madagascar. By February 26 at 10:23 UTC System 92S was over northwestern Madagascar. On February 27 at 1105 UTC had moved into the Mozambique Channel and appeared to be heading for a landfall in Mozambique. Credit: Credit: NASA/JPL, Ed Olsen

NASA satellites have been watching the low pressure area called System 92S for days, and infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite showed cloud temperatures were cooling, indicating the storm was getting more organized after it moved over northern Madagascar. Now it may be headed for landfall in Mozambique.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured on developing System 92S as it moved from the Southern Indian Ocean, west across northern Madagascar and into the Mozambique Channel. On February 25 at 0941 UTC, System 92S appeared as a rounded low pressure area with the strongest storms (and highest, coldest cloud tops on AIRS infrared imagery) south of the center of circulation. It was still in the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean and was moving west toward Madagascar. By February 26 at 10:23 UTC System 92S was raining on northern Madagascar. On February 27 at 1105 UTC had moved into the Mozambique Channel and appeared to be heading for a landfall in Mozambique. On the 27th, the strongest thunderstorms and coldest appeared in two areas, north and east of the storm's center.

On February 27, the center of System 92S was located in the Mozambique Channel, near 13.5 South and 48.5 East, about 345 nautical miles north-northeast of Antananarivo, Madagascar. AIRS infrared imagery indicated that the low had weakened because of its interaction with land, as it moved over northern Madagascar.

Now that the center of System 92S is over the warm waters of the , it is expected to redevelop quickly. The area of strong thunderstorms east of center, as seen on AIRS imagery is a band of thunderstorms.

The Joint gives this system a high chance for developing further into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours.

Citation: Three days of NASA infrared images show System 92S tropically developing (2012, February 27) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2012-02-days-nasa-infrared-images-92s.html
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