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NASA Satellite Reveals Heavy Rainfall Patterns in California
The collision of a flow of moisture from Hawaii known as a 'Pineapple Express' and a persistent low pressure system are wreaking havoc on California weather. This movie shows rain accumulation in San Diego from Jan. 6 through Jan. 11 based on data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)-based Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more). The TRMM satellite, using the world's only spaceborne rain radar and other microwave instruments, measures rainfall over the ocean. In this case instruments were able to reveal rainfall structure resulting from storms 'riding' the actual Pineapple Express extending toward Hawaii, which is beyond the range of conventional land-based National Weather Service radars.

In early 1995, a Pineapple Express hit California, contributing to a season of winter storms that killed 27 people and did $3 billion in damages and costs. A Pineapple Express in mid-October 2003 wreaked havoc from south of Seattle to north of Vancouver Island. Flooding forced more than 3,000 people from their homes.


This movie shows how the rain accumulated over a 5 day period. Green shows areas up to 50 millimeters (~2 inches) and red shows areas up to 225 millimeters (~9 inches).    This movie shows how the rain accumulated over a 5 day period. Green shows areas up to 50 millimeters (~2 inches) and red shows areas up to 225 millimeters (~9 inches).
Duration: 24.0 seconds
Available formats:
  720x486 (29.97 fps) Frames
  720x486 (29.97 fps) Frames
  640x480 (30 fps) MPEG-1   7 MB
  640x480 (30 fps) MPEG-1   12 MB
  320x240 (30 fps) MPEG-1   3 MB
  320x240 (30 fps) MPEG-1   3 MB
  320x240     JPEG         5 KB
  320x240     JPEG         5 KB
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January 7, 2005 . This image shows 27 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).    January 7, 2005 . This image shows 27 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF 6 MB
  160 x 80           PNG 26 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG 14 KB
  80 x 40             PNG   7 KB


January 8, 2005 . This image shows 51 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).    January 8, 2005 . This image shows 51 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF 6 MB
  160 x 80           PNG 26 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG 13 KB
  80 x 40             PNG   7 KB


January 10, 2005 . This image shows 99 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).    January 10, 2005 . This image shows 99 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF 6 MB
  160 x 80           PNG 24 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG 13 KB
  80 x 40             PNG   7 KB


January 11, 2005 . This image shows 123 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).    January 11, 2005 . This image shows 123 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF 6 MB
  160 x 80           PNG 24 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG 13 KB
  80 x 40             PNG   7 KB


January 9, 2005 . This image shows 75 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).    January 9, 2005 . This image shows 75 hours of accumulated rainfall. The accumulation is shown in colors ranging from green (less than 50 mm of rain) through red (200 mm or more).

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF 5 MB
  160 x 80           PNG 25 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG 12 KB
  80 x 40             PNG   7 KB


Color Table for accumulated rainfall. Green shows up to 50 millimeters (~2 inches) and red shows up to 225 millimeters (~9 inches).    Color Table for accumulated rainfall. Green shows up to 50 millimeters (~2 inches) and red shows up to 225 millimeters (~9 inches).

Available formats:
  960 x 480         TIFF 81 KB
  960 x 480         JPEG 78 KB
  480 x 240         JPEG 44 KB
  160 x 80           PNG 22 KB

Animation Number:3083
Animators:Lori Perkins (SVS) (Lead)
 Greg Shirah (SVS)
Completed:2005-01-11
Scientist:Jeff Halverson (JCET UMBC)
Instrument:TRMM/3B4XRT
Data set:USGS/GTOPO30
Data Collected:2005/01/06-11
Series:TRMM
 Rainfall
Goddard TV Tape:G2005-003
Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
SVS >> Los Angeles
DLESE >> Natural hazards
SVS >> Rain
SVS >> San Diego
GCMD >> Location >> California
SVS >> La Conchita
SVS >> Mudslide
More Information on this topic available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/ca_rains.html
 
 
Please give credit for this item to
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio, Hal Pierce (NASA/SSAI)


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