Bird's Eye View

Ocean altimeters, such as those on NASA's TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellites, "see" hurricanes with a different eye. Altimeters measure the height of the sea surface, which is typically higher in areas where ocean water is warm. Warm water fuels hurricanes as gasoline does an engine, so altimeters can be used to help predict where hurricanes passing over warm water will intensify. See examples of this use of altimeter data for the 2005 hurricane season.

Altimeter Hurricane Products:

• Hurricane Storm Surge
• Wilma's Trek Through Warm Caribbean/Gulf Waters
• Heat in the Gulf
• Hurricane Katrina intensification
• NASA Data Helps Track Heat Potential Fueling Rita
• Rita Roars Through a Warm Gulf - 9/22/2005
• Rita Roars Through a Warm Gulf - 9/21/2005
• Hurricane Watch From Space
• Hurricane Rita Roars through a Warm Gulf
• CU-Boulder Researchers Chart Katrina's Growth In Gulf Of Mexico
• CU Prof Produces Image To Track Rita
• Storm experts look Rita in eye

NASA Hurricane Resources - 2005:

• Hurricane Resource Page 2005