Tracking Hurricanes Using Satellite Imagery
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Why Hurricane Tracking is Vital Satellite imagery is very important for tracking and determining intensity trends of hurricanes and other tropical storms. When a hurricane is well offshore and out of effective radar range (more than 270 km/150 miles), satellite imagery is the best way to continuously track the storm. Weather reconnaissance planes flying into hurricanes provide valuable but not continuous data. Remember that infrared imagery can track day and night, while visible imagery is available only during daylight hours. Satellite animations track storm motion and also show other large-scale wind-pattern circulations that could potentially interact with the hurricane and alter future storm motion. |
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Tracking Motion and Intensity Trends In a nutshell, hurricane watchers use both visible and infrared satellite imagery to track motion, and they use three different methods to gauge intensity trends (cloud patterns, cloud-top temperatures, and sea-surface temperatures). The Explore Hurricanes section allows you to track the motion and intensity of three recent hurricanes. As you investigate the hurricanes, you will learn some of the methods forecasters use to track. |
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