South Indian Ocean

Tropical Cyclone Emeraude Viewed By GPM

As expected, tropical cyclone Emeraude formed on March 15, 2016 from a tropical low (99s) in the South Indian Ocean. The GPM core observatory satellite flew above intensifying Emeraude on March 16, 2016 at 2121Z after the tropical cyclone's maximum sustained winds had increased to greater than 90 kts (103.5 mph). Rainfall just northwest of Emeraude's eye was measured by GPM's Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) instrument falling at a rate of over 209 mm (8.2 inches) per hour. The powerful thunderstorms producing this extreme rainfall were measured by GPM's radar (DPR) reaching an

GPM Spots Potential South Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone

The GPM Core Observatory satellite saw possible tropical cyclone formation in the South Indian ocean on March 15, 2016 at 0900 UTC. A rainfall analysis using data collected by GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) shows rain bands wrapping around a tropical low. GPM's DPR measured rain falling at the extreme rate of over 220 mm (8.7 inches) per hour in powerful storms south of the low's center of circulation. GPM's radar (DPR Ku Band) data were able to show the 3-D structure of precipitation within the tropical low. Storm tops heights were measured by GPM

GPM Flies Over Dissipating Tropical Cyclone Corentin

Tropical cyclone Corentin was the first named tropical cyclone of 2016 in the South Indian Ocean. Corentin caused little danger because it's genesis, maturation and dissipation have all occurred over the South Indian Ocean about equidistant from the distant shores of Madagascar and Australia. The GPM core observatory satellite flew over Tropical Cyclone Corentin on January 25, 2016 at 1306 UTC. High vertical wind shear was starting to take it's toll on the increasingly disorganized tropical cyclone. Rainfall collected by GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR)

Developing Tropical Cyclone Viewed By GPM

The GPM core observatory satellite saw a tropical cyclone developing in the South Indian Ocean east of Madagascar on January 21, 2016 at 0146 UTC. GPM's Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) measured precipitation in the potential tropical cyclone. The most intense showers were shown by the GMI instrument to be dropping rain at a rate of over 71 mm (2.8 inches) per hour in strong storms to the northeast of the tropical low's center of circulation. GPM's radar (DPR) viewed a swath of data to the west of the developing tropical cyclone center where rain was measured

GPM Measures Rain in Cyclone Joalane

Two powerful tropical cyclones called Ikola and Joalane are now moving through the South Indian Ocean. The GPM core observatory satellite flew over intensifying cyclone Joalane in the South Indian Ocean on April 6, 2015 at 0406 UTC. GPM's Microwave Imager(GMI) found that intense convective thunderstorms within Joalane were dropping rain at a rate of over 63 mm (2.5 inches) per hour. Cyclone Joalane was located northeast of Mauritius at the time of this GPM pass. A 3-D view of Joalane's vertical precipitation structure was constructed from GPM's Radar (Ku Band) data. This cross section shows

Tropical Cyclone Christine

Tropical cyclone Christine was in the South Indian Ocean close to the northwestern coast of Australia when the TRMM satellite passed over on December 30, 2013 at 1113 UTC. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and precipitation Radar (PR) instruments revealed that Christine had a well defined eye. TRMM PR found that the most intense rain was falling at a rate of over 70mm/hr (~2.8 inches) in intense bands well to the east of Christine's eye. TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) instrument provided good coverage of Christine's eye while TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) had a good look at Christine's

Tropical Storm Koji

The TRMM satellite passed directly above an intensifying tropical storm in the South Indian Ocean called KOJI on 8 March 2012 at 2053 UTC. The rainfall analysis above was made from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data. Those TRMM data reveal that KOJI was getting organized with bands of heavy rainfall spiraling into the storm's center. KOJI has been predicted to increase in intensity and reach hurricane force with peak winds of 70kts (~80 mph) on 10 March 2012. KOJI is predicted to remain at hurricane force for only one day and then weaken while traveling southwestward

TRMM Sees Another Tropical Cyclone Developing

This has been an active tropical cyclone season in the South Indian Ocean. The TRMM satellite passed over another forming tropical cyclone (15s) in the South Indian Ocean on 2 March 2012 at 0140 UTC. A rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments is shown on the image above. This "top down" view shows that very heavy rainfall of over 50mm/hr (~2 inches) was occurring near the center of the storm's circulation. TRMM's Precipitation Radar (PR) was used in the image above to show the 3-D structure of the forming tropical cyclone. Powerful storm

TRMM Sees First Tropical Storm Forming In The South Indian Ocean

On 4 December 2011 at 1210 UTC The TRMM satellite had a look at the first tropical storm forming in the Indian Ocean this season. Tropical cyclones normally form in this area between 15 November and 30 April so this one was a little overdue. The "top down" view above shows a rainfall analysis from TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) overlaid on an enhanced infrared image from Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) data. This analysis shows that very heavy rainfall of over 50 mm/hr (~2 inches) was occurring in the forming tropical cyclone near the center of it's circulation