Latest Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Stories

  Major Hurricane Katia continues to approach the U.S. East coast and stir up rough surf. Meanwhile two NASA satellites have provided a look at the changes in organization and cloud patterns over the last several days. One NASA instrument that flies aboard two different NASA satellites has been providing very clear pictures of Hurricane Katia's transition over the last couple of days. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument flies on NASA's Aqua and Terra...

BU researchers find that modeling errors produced exaggerated claims A new, comprehensive study by an international team of scientists, including scientists at Boston University in the US and the Universities of Viçosa and Campinas in Brazil, has been published in the current issue of Science (August 26, 2011) refuting earlier alarmist claims that drought has induced a decline in global plant productivity during the past decade and posed a threat to global food security. Those earlier...

Muifa headed for landfall todayTropical Storm Muifa is filling up the Yellow Sea on NASA satellite imagery as it continues moving north today to a landfall in East China's Shandong province. NASA's Aqua satellite captured visible and infrared imagery that shows Muifa's cloud cover stretches across the Yellow Sea, from China to the west to South and North Korea to the east.At 18:25 UTC 2:25 p.m. EDT, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite...

Former Tropical Storm Emily made a brief comeback this weekend after degenerating over the mountains of Hispaniola late last week, and NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of Emily just after her "rebirth."At 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, August 6, Emily became a tropical depression for the second time in her life about 70 miles west-northwest of Great Abaco Island, near 26.9 North and 78.1 West. She was moving to the north at 8 mph and had a minimum central pressure of 1012 millibars....

Water isn't the only thing pouring over Niagara Falls. Pollution from fires in Ontario, Canada is also making the one thousand mile trip, while being measured by NASA's Aqua satellite.One instrument that flies aboard two of NASA's satellites has provided two views of the pollution from the fires in Ontario. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS instrument, flies onboard NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites. MODIS has provided a visible look at the smoke and pollution that...

Tropical Storm Nock-ten, formerly tropical depression 10W continues raining on the Philippines, and a NASA satellite image shows the extent of the storm's clouds.A visible image of Tropical Storm 10W, now called Nock-ten was captured on July 26, 2011 at 02:30 UTC or 10:30 a.m. local Asia/Manila time (July 25 at 10:30 p.m. EDT) as its center was moving over the Philippines. The image was taken from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) that flies on NASA's Terra satellite...

The eye of a tropical cyclone is an indication of a strong storm, and Typhoon Ma-on's eye was apparent in visible and infrared imagery captured by NASA's Aqua satellite. Ma-on just achieved Category Four status on the Saffir-simpson scale that measures hurricane intensity.The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite took an image of Typhoon Ma-on that clearly shows the storm's eye, although it has some high clouds in it. The...

Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.Since its eruption in early June, several NASA satellites have captured images of the ash plume from the eruption of the Chilean Volcano called Puyehue-Cordón Caulle and have tracked it around the world. NASA has collected them in the NASA Goddard FLICKR image gallery that shows the progression of the plume around the southern hemisphere.The Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex includes the Puyehue volcano, the Cordón...

NASA sees Hurricane Adrian fade fastSome satellite images are striking and memorable, while others are just interesting. On June 10, NASA's Aqua satellite flew over Hurricane Adrian from space and sent a stunning image to the science team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Meanwhile a GOES-11 Satellite animation shows how and when Adrian fizzled.Adrian is no more in the Eastern Pacific as of June 13, 2011, but the Aqua satellite image it left behind will be remembered...

NASA is providing critical satellite data to help residents in south Louisiana as they deal with a rising Mississippi River.Data from NASA satellites is capturing the spread of water and sediment following the opening of the Bonnet Carré and the Morganza water control spillways. The data will help Louisiana officials as they respond to flooding caused by the spillway openings. Both water control structures were opened recently to help divert high Mississippi River waters from major south...