Tag: Maysak 2020

Sep. 03, 2020 – NASA Finds Maysak Becoming Extra-Tropical

NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of former Typhoon Maysak, now an extra-tropical storm. Wind shear continued pushing the bulk of the storm’s clouds to the northwest.

Maysak’s Landfall

Maysak made landfall on Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 UTC) about 12 miles west of Busan, South Korea with maximum sustained surface winds of 64 knots (74 mph/119 kph).

Typhoon Maysak’s Final Status on Sept. 2

On Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued their final bulletin on Maysak. At that time, Maysak was located near latitude 36.9 degrees north and longitude 128.9 degrees east. That is about 24 nautical miles north-northwest of Busan, South Korea. Maximum sustained surface winds were near 64 knots (74 mph/119 kph). Maysak was moving to the north-northeast. At the time, the JTWC noted, “Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery and radar imagery indicate tightly-curved banding wrapping into a defined low-level circulation center.”

Maysak was undergoing extra-tropical transition late on Sept 2. It is embedded within the leading edge of a deep mid-latitude shortwave trough (elongated area of low pressure).

NASA’s Satellite View on Sept. 3

On Sept. 3, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP revealed southeasterly wind shear battering Maysak had exposed the center of circulation and pushed the bulk of clouds and precipitation to the northwest of the center. The storm extended from the Korean Peninsula into the Sea of Japan.

On Sept. 3, the system completed extra-tropical transition and gained frontal characteristics.

What is Wind Shear?

In general, wind shear is a measure of how the speed and direction of winds change with altitude. Tropical cyclones are like rotating cylinders of winds. Each level needs to be stacked on top each other vertically in order for the storm to maintain strength or intensify. Wind shear occurs when winds at different levels of the atmosphere push against the rotating cylinder of winds, weakening the rotation by pushing it apart at different levels.

What does Extra-tropical Mean?

When a storm becomes extra-tropical it means that a tropical cyclone has lost its “tropical” characteristics. The National Hurricane Center defines “extra-tropical” as a transition that implies both poleward displacement (meaning it moves toward the north or south pole) of the cyclone and the conversion of the cyclone’s primary energy source from the release of latent heat of condensation to baroclinic (the temperature contrast between warm and cold air masses) processes. It is important to note that cyclones can become extratropical and still retain winds of hurricane or tropical storm force.

This system is forecast to deepen as a storm-force extra-tropical low-pressure area over North Korea and China.

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

Hurricanes/tropical cyclones are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America’s leadership in space and scientific exploration.

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Sep. 02, 2020 – NASA-NOAA Satellite Tracking Typhoon Maysak’s Approach to Landfall

Typhoon Maysak was moving north through the East China Sea early on Sept. 2 when NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite passed overhead and captured a visible image of the storm approaching landfall in South Korea.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Typhoon Maysak on Sept. 2 at 1:24 a.m. EDT (0524 UTC) and saw Typhoon Maysak headed for landfall in southern South Korea. The image revealed that the eye had again become obscured, and strong thunderstorms circled the center of circulation. The northern quadrant was already moving over South Korea and the eastern quadrant was brushing Kyushu, Japan. Kyushu is the most southern and third largest island of Japan’s five main islands.

On Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) Maysak was still a typhoon with maximum sustained winds near 90 knots (104 mph/167 kph). It was located near latitude 33.1 degrees north and longitude 127.9 degrees east, about 134 miles south-southwest of Busan, South Korea. Maysak was moving to the north-northeast.

Maysak is forecast to move north and make landfall later in the day today, west of Busan, South Korea. It will weaken rapidly as it passes over the length of the Korean peninsula and will dissipate over northeastern China.

For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America’s leadership in space and scientific exploration

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Sep. 01, 2020 – NASA Sees Typhoon Maysak’s Eye Reopen 

NASA’s Terra satellite obtained visible imagery of Typhoon Maysak is it continued moving north though the East China Sea. The imagery revealed the eye of the storm had reappeared.

NASA Satellite View: Maysak’s Organization

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Maysak on Sept. 1. In the image, the eye was again visible after being obscured by clouds during the previous day, Aug. 31. Satellite imagery depicts deep convection and spiral banding of thunderstorms wrapping tightly into a low-level circulation center.

Satellite imagery was created using NASA’s Worldview product at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Maysak on Sept. 1

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Sept. 1, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Honolulu, Hawaii noted that Typhoon Maysak was located about 427 nautical miles south-southwest of Busan, South Korea near latitude 28.4 degrees north and longitude 126.3 degrees east. Maysak was moving to the north with maximum sustained winds of 120 knots (138 mph/222 kph).

Maysak is forecast to make landfall to the west of Busan on Sept. 2. Then it is expected to weaken rapidly as it passes over the length of the Korean peninsula, and will dissipate over northeastern China.

About NASA’s Worldview and Terra Satellite

NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks “right now.”

NASA’s Terra satellite is one in a fleet of NASA satellites that provide data for hurricane research.

Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

For updated forecasts, visit: www.nhc.noaa.gov

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Aug. 31, 2020 – NASA Finds Typhoon Maysak Moving Near Okinawa, Japan

Typhoon Maysak continued to move through the Northwestern Pacific and was closing in on Japan’s Okinawa Island when NASA’s Terra satellite obtained a visible image of the storm. Maysak’s eye is not expected to go over the island, but pass just west of it.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured a visible image of Typhoon Maysak. Imagery showed the eye of the storm appeared filled with high clouds, as powerful bands of thunderstorm circled it. Bands of thunderstorms from the south were spiraling into the low-level center.

On Aug. 31 at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), Typhoon Maysak was located about 144 nautical miles south of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Island, Japan. It was moving to the north-northwest and had maximum sustained winds near 100 knots (115 mph/185 kph).

Maysak’s center is expected to pass just west of Okinawa within 24 hours. The storm is expected to make landfall in southern South Korea and will start to become extra-tropical.

About NASA’s Worldview and Terra Satellite

NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks “right now.”

NASA’s Terra satellite is one in a fleet of NASA satellites that provide data for hurricane research.

Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA’s expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

By Rob Gutro
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Aug. 28, 2020 – NASA Terra Satellite Sees Development of Tropical Storm Maysak

NASA infrared imagery revealed several areas of strong thunderstorms around the center of the recently organized Tropical Storm Maysak.

Tropical Depression 10W formed during the early morning hours on Aug. 28 and quickly organized and strengthened into a tropical storm.

Infrared Data Provides a Temperature Check

Infrared data provides temperature information, and the strongest thunderstorms that reach highest into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures.

On Aug. 28 at 9:15 a.m. EDT (1315 UTC), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA’s Terra satellite captured an infrared image of cloud top temperatures in Maysak that showed a quick burst of strength. MODIS found the powerful thunderstorms that developed were as cold as or colder than minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 62.2 degrees Celsius) near Maysak’s center. Surrounding that area were cloud top temperatures were as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.6. degrees Celsius). All of those areas were generating heavy rain. The storm also appeared somewhat elongated from west to east.

Less than 2 hours later, infrared data showed those cloud tops were cooling, meaning they dropped in altitude. At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted, “Satellite imagery depicts an elongated low level circulation center partially obscured by deep convection [wind] sheared slightly to the southwest. Cloud tops have cooled significantly over the past 6 hours as the convection has continued to consolidate.”

Maysak’s Status on Aug. 28, 2020

At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Maysak was located near latitude 16.3 degrees north and longitude 129.5 degrees east. That is about 619 miles south of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Island, Japan. Maysak is moving to the west-southwest and has maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph).

Maysak is forecast to move northwest and pass just to the west of Okinawa Island on Aug. 31 as it tracks north.

NASA Researches Earth from Space

For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America’s leadership in space and scientific exploration.

For updated forecasts, visit: www.nhc.noaa.gov

By Rob Gutro 
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center