Heart of the Hurricane

Traditional weather satellites that use infrared sensors can also measure sea surface temperature, but "the big advantage that the TRMM microwave imager has ... is that microwave instruments can see through clouds, whereas infrared instruments (on traditional weather satellites) can only give you sea surface temperatures in clear regions," Shepherd said.

While the kind of rainfall and sea surface temperature data produced by TRMM holds great potential for improving hurricane forecasting, TRMM is not primarily a hurricane-monitoring satellite.

"Things like hurricane monitoring ... are extra benefits of the satellite, but its main mission is to measure rainfall," Shepherd said. "TRMM is a research mission -- it wasn't designed to be used in an operational setting.

"But where the data can be used, I'm sure it is ...."

For more information:

See 'Storm Chasers: Fury in the Skies' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/stormchasers-fury-in-the-skies_8.html

See 'Storm Chasers: Fury in the Plains' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/storm-chasers-fury-on-the-plains_9.html

See 'Oaklahoma Fury' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/oklahoma-fury_12.html

See 'When Nature Strikes Back: Chasing Killer Storms' TV documentary
http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/when-nature-strikes-back-chasing-killer-storms_16.html