Using NRT AMSR2 data for Tropical Storms in the Atlantic Basin

Here's a great example of putting AMSR2 NRT data to practical use. To monitor tropical storm activity in the North Atlantic Basin we're using the MODIS instrument (on the NASA Aqua satellite) NRT data (from MODAPS) alongside the AMSR2 data (archived here at the GHRC DAAC). We're collecting ascending passes over the domain for a "daytime" image and descending passes for a "nighttime" image. (Both satellites have ascending pass equator crossing times of about 1:30 PM local time). The animation consists of twice per day images over the past 10 days – for the northern hemisphere tropical Atlantic Ocean basin. If tropical storms were present during the period, their paths are displayed.

The "base" map consists of landforms in shades of green and brown, with country/state borders - and the sea surface temperature (SST) in shades of red to light purple. SST is detected by AMSR2 (aboard the JAXA GCOM-W1 satellite). Sea waters near coastlines and in the Caribbean are shown as dark gray since SST retrievals are not dependable in shallow waters. Next, gray shades indicate significant clouds - detected by MODIS. Where the amount of liquid water in the atmosphere is significant, the Liquid Water Path (LWP) is depicted with a rainbow of colors - also generated from AMSR2 data. Since the MODIS and AMSR2 instruments are not in a "train" situation (following each other along nearly the same path) - there are occasionally patches of significant clouds (via MODIS) without accompanying LWP values (via AMSR2). There are also occasions where one or the other has a delay in processing, meaning the data are unavailable to the Hurricane Tracker software.