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Hurricane Season 2008: Tropical Storm Nargis (Indian Ocean)
04.30.08
Combination Satellite Image Gives Clearer Image of Cyclone Nargis Floods
Credit: NASA/Robert Simmon> Larger image
> Labeled image In early May 2008, Cyclone Nargis caused widespread flooding in Burma. Besides trying to assist the storm survivors, the international community also tried to determine the extent of flooding, but making such a determination can be difficult. Clouds often obscure satellite observations, and muddy-brown floodwaters typically blend in with the surrounding landscape, especially fallow cropland. A standard satellite image can provide an approximation of the flood extent, but not an exact outline.
Researchers at the University of Maryland’s Department of Geography developed a method of detecting floodwater by examining multiple sources of information to provide a better -- though not perfect -- picture of flooded areas.
This image combines observations taken on May 5, 2008, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites. It uses the cloud-free observations from each to get the clearest possible picture. Even so, cloud cover obscured both satellites’ views in some areas, so additional flooding could be present. This image also incorporates a percent tree cover dataset called the MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields. Flooded areas are blue, cities are red, and tree cover appears in shades of green (dense tree cover) to pale yellow (sparse tree cover).
In this image, flooding appears to be more intense in areas with fewer trees. There are different possible explanations for this. Because trees block a satellite’s view of the land surface below, the trees could be hiding floodwaters. On the other hand, in deltas and other low-lying areas that flood often, trees often thrive better on locally higher spots in the terrain, which are less likely to flood. Additional analysis would be needed to determine what connection, if any, exists between the flooded areas, elevation, and tree cover. By examining Terra and Aqua observations, as well as vegetation cover, University of Maryland researchers concluded that Cyclone Nargis flooded about 14,402 square kilometers (5,561 square miles) in the Irrawaddy River Delta in Burma, an area the size of Connecticut.
This image was created by Robert Simmon based on data from the Department of Geography, University of Maryland. The flood extent product shown here was made possible, in part, by funding from NASA (NASA.NNX08AH05A PI John Townshend) and through the use of NASA MODIS satellite data products. The MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields data set is available from the Global Land Cover Facility.
Text credit: Michon Scott and Rebecca Lindsey, NASA's Earth Observatory
May 13, 2008
Views of Tropical Cyclone Nargis from Space Station
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured these images of Tropical Cyclone Nargis days before the storm reached Burma.
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ISS017-E-005600 (29 April 2008) --- Outflow obscures the definition of the eye and center of Tropical Cyclone Nargis, seen when the storm was at approximately 13.5 degrees north latitude and 86.2 degrees east longitude with maximum winds of 74.9 miles per hour. Photographed by a crew member aboard the International Space Station, the storm was moving east-northeast at 070 degrees at 4.6 miles per hour. This picture was made several days prior to impact at Burma. Photo Credit: NASA
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ISS017-E-005598 (29 April 2008) --- Outflow obscures the definition of the eye and center of Tropical Cyclone Nargis, seen when the storm was at approximately 13.5 degrees north latitude and 86.2 degrees east longitude with maximum winds of 74.9 miles per hour. Photographed by a crew member aboard the International Space Station, the storm was moving east-northeast at 070 degrees at 4.6 miles per hour. This picture was made several days prior to impact at Burma. Photo Credit: NASA
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ISS017-E-005597 (29 April 2008) --- Outflow obscures the definition of the eye and center of Tropical Cyclone Nargis, seen when the storm was at approximately 13.5 degrees north latitude and 86.2 degrees east longitude with maximum winds of 74.9 miles per hour. Photographed by a crew member aboard the International Space Station, the storm was moving east-northeast at 070 degrees at 4.6 miles per hour. This picture was made several days prior to impact at Burma. Photo Credit: NASA
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ISS017-E-005751 (30 April 2008) --- When this image was photographed by one of the crew members aboard the International Space Station, Tropical Cyclone Nargis was centered near a point located at 15. 3 degrees north latitude and 88.2 degrees north longitude and moving northeast at 065 degrees at 8.1 miles per hour. The center was approximately 7 degrees southwest of Burma with sustained winds of 74.9 miles per hour, gusting to 92.2 miles per hour, forecast to strengthen. Maximum significant wave height was 27 feet. Photo Credit: NASA
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ISS017-E-005749 (30 April 2008) --- When this image was photographed by one of the crew members aboard the International Space Station, Tropical Cyclone Nargis was centered near a point located at 15. 3 degrees north latitude and 88.2 degrees north longitude and moving northeast at 065 degrees at 8.1 miles per hour). The center was approximately 7 degrees southwest of Burma with sustained winds of 74.9 miles per hour, gusting to 92.2 miles per hour, forecast to strengthen. Maximum significant wave height was 27 feet. Photo Credit: NASA
May 12, 2008
NASA's Landsat Looks at Cyclone Nargis Floods in Burma
Landsat captured this image of Burma on March 18, 2008. Credit: NASA/Jesse Allen, EROS Data Center of the USGS> Larger image
> Labeled before and after images
The city of Yangôn (also called Rangoon) in Burma, is tucked into a “V” between two rivers that empty into the Gulf of Martaban through a large estuary. When Cyclone Nargis passed over the city in the first week of May 2008, the entire coastal plain flooded, surrounding Yangôn with water.
This pair of images from NASA’s Landsat satellite shows the city and surrounding agricultural land before and after the storm. On March 18, 2008, the built up part of the city and its suburbs appear bluish purple, fallow cropland is pinkish-tan, and vegetation is dark green. The wide rivers are a muddy green.
After Nargis inundated the area with heavy rains and storm surge, standing water covered almost the entire area. As of May 5, flooding in the heart of the city appeared to be less than in the surrounding areas. Flooding probably exists, but it may be at a smaller scale than Landsat is able to detect. However, all the land to the west and southwest and most of the area to the east and southeast are still submerged.
Landsat captured this image of Burma on May 5, 2008. Credit: NASA/Jesse Allen, EROS Data Center of the USGS> Larger image
> Labeled before and after images
Across the river to the southeast of the city, a swath of relatively dry land -- perhaps higher in elevation, or protected by a levee -- extends toward the lower right corner of the image. Across the rest of the scene, standing water varies in shades from muddy brown, to green, to purplish blue.
For more information about Landsat, visit http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Text credit: Rebecca Lindsey, NASA's Earth Observatory, Goddard Space Flight Center
May 9, 2008
Satellites Provide Close-up View of Nargis Floods in Burma
The first cyclone of the season in the northern Indian Ocean was a devastating one for Burma (Myanmar). At least 10,000 people were killed, and thousands more were missing as of May 5, 2008.
Image copyright Geoeye/CRISP-Singapore> Larger image The scene above captured by the Ikonos satellite on May 7, 2008, illustrates the complete devastation Cyclone Nargis brought to Burma when it barreled ashore on May 3. This tiny village was located about 27 kilometers (16 miles) south of Yangon, the country’s largest city. In the lower image, taken on May 3, 2002, trees and buildings line a single street, which is surrounded by fields of crops, probably rice. After the disaster, the trees and buildings are completely gone, replaced by messy piles of rubble. The fields are largely submerged under brown and green floodwater. The tiny canal that ran alongside the village on the left side of the image has disappeared into a wide, brown river. A faint curving line outlines the canal’s banks within the new river.
Destruction on this scale occurred throughout the Irrawaddy Delta, where 90-95 percent of the buildings were destroyed, reported the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The government reported the official death toll to be more than 22,000, with 41,000 missing, said the UN. The senior U.S. diplomat in Burma estimated that more than 100,000 people may have perished in the storm, said CNN.
Text credit: Holli Riebeek/NASA Earth Observatory/Goddard Space Flight Center
May 8, 2008, second update
Satellite Images Show Floods in Burma from Cyclone Nargis
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> Labeled before and after images
Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma when it came ashore on May 3, 2008. As of May 7, the government estimated the death toll to be around 22,000, though the U.S. diplomat in the country said that more than 100,000 people may have perished, reported CNN.
The storm brought heavy rain and a powerful storm surge, causing wide-spread flooding. The low-lying Irrawaddy Delta took the brunt of the damage, but the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite also detected coastal flooding farther north near the border with Bangladesh. The upper image, taken on April 19, 2008, provides a reference point to illustrate the extent of the flooding.
These images combine infrared and visible light to highlight the presence of water on the ground. Water is black or dark blue, while plant-covered land is green, and bare earth is tan.
> Larger image> Labeled before and after images
Credit: NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team Clouds are pale blue and white. The tangle of rivers that drain into Hunters Bay flow together, covering the small delta with water.
Near the lower edge of the image, the mouths of the Dalet River flow into Combermere Bay. The tiny islands formed by the draining river seem to dwindle under the cover of flood water. The largest city in the region is Sittwe. Though the rivers north of the city are flooded, the city itself shows little sign of flooding.
Daily images of Burma are available from the MODIS Rapid Response System at: http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?FAS_Myanmar/2008128
Text credit: Holli Riebeek, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
May 8, 2008, first update
Rainfall Accumulations Left by Cyclone Nargis
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Credit: NASA/Jesse Allen, using data provided by the TRMM science team
Many of the coastal areas around the Bay of Bengal are densely populated and prone to flooding, making it easy for natural hazards -- unusually heavy monsoon rains, tsunamis or cyclones -- to become natural disasters. A disaster unfolded in Burma in early May 2008, as Cyclone Nargis swept over the Irrawaddy River Delta, pummeling the area with high winds, storm surge, and heavy rains.
This image shows rainfall accumulations along Cyclone Nargis’ path between April 27 and May 4, 2008, based on data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. Rainfall totals range from 0 (palest green) to 600 millimeters, which is just under 2 feet (dark blue). The path of the storm and its strength on various dates are shown as colored line segments (off-white to dark red).
The first area of 600-millimeter rainfall totals occurred over the open waters of the Bay of Bengal, as the storm was intensifying from a Tropical Storm to a Category 2 cyclone. Nargis weakened to Category 1 as it moved east-northeast toward Burma, but by May 2, it had re-intensified. When it made landfall over the Mouths of the Irrawaddy River, it was a borderline Category 3/4 storm. Here, Nargis inundated a second area with up to 600 millimeters of rain. The amount of rain was more than double the daily average. When the skies cleared on May 5, satellites observed widespread flooding over thousands of square kilometers (miles). Storm surge likely played a role in coastal flooding, too.
As of May 7, 2008, the number of people killed was estimated at more than 22,000, according to news reports citing the Burmese government, with twice that many people still missing and feared dead.
TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency, JAXA.
Text credit: Rebecca Lindsey, NASA's Earth Observatory, Goddard Space Flight Center
May 6, 2008
Burma Reports Over 22,000 Casualties From Cyclone Nargis
Image Credit: Hal Pierce, SSAI/NASA GSFC> Click for larger image Powerful Cyclone Nargis made landfall this past weekend in Burma. Cyclone Nargis is the deadliest cyclone to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people perished in Bangladesh from a land-falling cyclone that year.
The Associated Press noted that a Burma state-run radio station reported on May 5, that more than 22,464 people were confirmed dead, and thousands were missing. The United Nations estimates up to a million could be homeless.
Before coming ashore Nargis intensified into a powerful category four tropical cyclone with wind speeds estimated at 115 knots (132 mph). Nargis, the first tropical cyclone of the North Indian Ocean season, is shown in the image above when the storm was overflown by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite on May 3, 2008 at 0043 UTC (May 2 at 8:43 p.m. EDT). By this time Nargis had weakened to minimal hurricane force with wind speeds of about 70 knots (80 miles per hour).
Although very strong winds were responsible for much of the damage with Nargis, flooding and mudslides were also possible due to heavy rainfall. TRMM was used to calibrate rainfall estimates from other satellites in the rainfall analysis shown above. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. monitors rainfall over the global tropics. MPA rainfall totals from April 27 to May 4, 2008 are shown above in relation to Nargis' track (identified by the storm/cyclone symbols connected by a black line). A time series of Nargis' rainfall over southern Burma and the Andaman Sea indicated almost 600 Millimeters (23.6 inches) of rainfall in some areas.
Image Credit: Hal Pierce, SSAI/NASA GSFC> Click for larger image According to a report by the Agence-France Presse, Burma's social welfare minister, Maung Maung Swe, told reporters on May 5 that 95 percent of the homes in Bogalay had been destroyed. Bogalay has a population of 190,000. The destruction of lives and property was blamed on the 12 foot (3.6 meter) high storm surge that accompanied Cyclone Nargis.
The Associated Press reports that satellite maps provided by the United Nations show that the storm's damage was concentrated over an area of about 11,580 square miles (30,000 square-kilometers) stretching along the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Martaban coastlines. That stretch is home to nearly a quarter of Burma's 57 million people.
CNN reported the American Red Cross and other aid organizations have been gathering supplies to ship to Burma.
Text Credit: Rob Gutro/Hal Pierce, Goddard Space Flight Center
May 5, 2008
Tropical Cyclone Nargis Proves Deadly to Burma
> Larger image
Credit: NASA/JPL
Tropical Cyclone made landfall over the weekend of May 3 and 4 and killed nearly 4,000 people, according to Reuters news service. Thousands more were reported missing. Cyclone Nargis was a Category three storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength, packing sustained winds of 120 mph when it made landfall.
In the former capital city of Yangon, sturdy buildings suffered damage where roofs are reported to have town off by Nargis' strong winds. The damage in Yangon suggests that the shanty towns outside the city have likely suffered severe damage.
This infrared image of Cyclone Nargis was created on May 4 at 6:29 UTC (2:30 a.m. EDT) by data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), an instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite.
This AIRS image shows the temperature of the cloud tops or the surface of the Earth in cloud-free regions. The lowest temperatures (in purple) are associated with high, cold cloud tops that make up the top of Nargis (shown as the circular purple area on this satellite image) located over Burma. The infrared signal of the AIRS instrument does not penetrate through clouds. Where there are no clouds the AIRS instrument reads the infrared signal from the surface of the Earth, revealing warmer temperatures (red).
Cyclone Sidr was the last major storm to hit Asia. In November 2007, Sidr killed 3,300 people in Bangladesh.
Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
May 1, 2008
Tropical Cyclone Nargis Continues Its Trek Through the Indian Ocean
› High resolution
Credit: NASA/JPL In this May 1, 2008, visible image from NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecraft, Cyclone Nargis is now a Category one hurricane located 370 miles west of Yangon, Burma, moving east-northeast at eight knots. The storm is forecast to gain a little more intensity before the effects of land begin to weaken the storm, which is expected to make landfall within 36 hours. Threatened landmasses include: the Andaman Islands, Burma and Bangladesh. It is generating wave heights to 27 feet, and heavy thunderstorms and squally winds are expected over the Andaman Islands. Fishermen are advised not to venture out to sea.
Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
April 30, 2008
Cyclone Signals Start of Season in North Indian Ocean
The recent formation of Tropical Cyclone Nargis in the Bay of Bengal coincides with the start of cyclone season in the North Indian Ocean, which typically runs from April through December. Despite the long season, the region, which includes the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, on average has just over 5 named storms per year with 2 becoming full tropical cyclones. Last year there were two storms, both of which were notable. In June, Gonu, an extremely rare Category 5 cyclone in the Arabian Sea, became the strongest storm ever recorded in that part of the basin. Despite weakening before landfall, it went on to kill 72 people in the area as a result of flooding. In November, a slightly less powerful but far more deadly storm struck the southern coast of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal. The region, which is known for it's high death tolls, suffered over 3400 fatalities. As a result, Cyclone Nargis is being closely watched.
The first image shows Nargis just as it was becoming a tropical storm. The image was taken at 04:37 UTC (10:07 am local time) 27 April 2008 and shows the horizontal pattern of rain intensity within the storm. Rain rates in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the first precipitation radar in space, while rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). The rain rates are overlaid on infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). At this stage the center is not yet very well defined, although a fledgling circulation is evident by the slight curvature in the rain bands. At the time of this image, the estimated sustained winds had not yet reached 35 knots (40 mph), the minimum threshold for tropical storm intensity. Nargis officially became a tropical storm less then 8 hours after this image was taken.
The next image from TRMM was taken at 18:32 UTC 28 April (12:02 am 29 April local time) and shows a much different looking storm. A large, well-defined eye is now readily apparent. In the western semi-circle, a strong eye-wall can be identified by intense rainfall (dark red arc). The storm is very symmetric with rain bands now tightly curving around the center (green rings indicating moderate intensity rain). At the time of this image, Nargis was a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds estimated at 75 knots (86 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The system was upgraded to a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 85 knots (98 mph) few hours later.
TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.
Images produced by Hal Pierce (SSAI/NASA GSFC) and caption by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC).
Cyclone Nargis Poised to Strike the Burmese Coast
Tropical Cyclone Nargis. Credit: NASA/JPL> Click for larger image Cyclone Nargis is a Category two hurricane, and is forecast to strike the Burmese coast West of Yangon.
At 9:00 GMT (5:00 a.m. EDT) on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, Nargis was packing sustained winds of 85 knots (97 mph) with higher gusts. It was located near 13.6 degrees south latitude and 85.2 degrees east longitude, or 565 miles south-southwest of Calcutta, India. Nargis was moving north at 4 knots (4 mph).
Threatened landmasses include: India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Burma, Bangladesh. Forecasters expect Nargis will turn to the northeast and will continue to intensify. It is generating wave heights to 24 feet, and heavy thunderstorms are expected over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Squally winds are also forecast along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu fishermen are advised not to venture out to sea.
This infrared image of Nargis was created on April 29 at 7:47 UTC (3:47 a.m. EDT) by data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), an instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite.
This AIRS image shows the temperature of the cloud tops or the surface of the Earth in cloud-free regions. The lowest temperatures (in purple) are associated with high, cold cloud tops that make up the top of Nargis (shown as the circular purple area on this satellite image). The infrared signal of the AIRS instrument does not penetrate through clouds. Where there are no clouds the AIRS instrument reads the infrared signal from the surface of the Earth, revealing warmer temperatures (red).
Text credit: Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center