tiros weather watch

8/7/2019 TIROS Weather Watch

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(NASA-TM-X-72C88)(NASA) 4 P

TIROS ~ E A T H E RWATCH

N75-70 18

TIROS

WEATHER WATCH

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AN D SPACE ADMINISTRATION

(NASA-TM-X-72C88)(NASA) 4 P

TIROS ~ E A T H E RWATCH

N75-70 18

TIROS

WEATHER WATCH

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AN D SPACE ADMINISTRATION


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The most dramatic weather systems seen by TIROSare the hurricanes which occur over subtropicaloceans . Hurricane Ethel shown in picture 1 hit theCaribbean in the fall of 1964 . The intensity of the

wind common to hurricanes is apparent in thecloud formation seen from above. The spiral cloudarray ind ica tes wind flowing around and towardthe center or clear area, known as the eye of thestorm.

When warm and cold air masses meet , they forma sloping boundary called a front. Fronts movedynami cally, bringing about temperature chahges,wind shifts and velocity changes, and oftentimes

rain , snow , sleet and hail , depending upon the typeof front and the season of the year . Picture 2shows a la rge sca le vortex or frontal system withthe center of the low pressure at the center ofthe spiral. Picture 3 is a southern hemispherefrontal system taken by TIROS IX and shows theclockwise motion of vortices in the southern hemi -sphere as op pose d to the counter -c lockwise motionin the northern hemisphere. Cellular clouds which

indicate fair weather result from the rise of warmmoist air to altit udes where pressure and tempera -ture pe rmit visible moisture to form. They usuallyoccur behind a weakening cold air mass as shownin picture 4.

Heavy cumulus or puffy clouds form by the riseof moist warm air to great heights. They occurmost f req uently over the oceans in the tropicaland subt ropi ca l regions. Picture 5 shows a largebuild-up of cumulonimbus clouds over the IndianOcean. They appear bright because these types ofclouds are thick and reflect more sunlight. Theybring thunderstorms, high winds, lightning, rain,and sometimes hail.

Spiral patterns produced in the wake of stable airpassing by subtropical mountainous islands of theoceans are typified by picture No.6 . These uniquecloud structures are observed near the islandswest of Africa in the North Atlantic Ocean. Theyare known as "eddy patterns" and are usuallybelow 1000 feet in elevation and produce noapprec iab le wea ther effect.

Warm moist air flowing over a cooler land massproduces fog, which is the same as a low cloudor visible moisture. Picture 7 shows England out-lined by fog. This visible moisture near the groundis relatively thin and the TV camera sees i t asgrey.

When weathermen see these types of picturestaken by TIROS , they can interpret and predictthe weather .

The most dramatic weather systems seen by TIROSare the hurricanes which occur over subtropicaloceans . Hurricane Ethel shown in picture 1 hit theCaribbean in the fall of 1964 . The intensity of the

wind common to hurricanes is apparent in th ecloud formation seen from above. The spiral cloudarray ind ica tes wind flowing around and towardthe center or clear area, known as the eye of thestorm.

When warm and cold air masses meet , they forma sloping boundary called a front. Fronts movedynami cally, bringing about temperature chahges,wind shifts and velocity changes, and oftentimes

rain , snow , sleet and hail , depending upon the typeof front and the season of the year . Picture 2shows a la rge sca le vortex or frontal system withthe center of the low pressure at the center ofthe spiral. Picture 3 is a southern hemispherefrontal system taken by TIROS IX and shows theclockwise motion of vortices in the southern hemi -sphere as op pose d to the counter -c lockwise motionin the northern hemisphere. Cellular clouds which

indicate fair weather result from the rise of warmmoist air to altit udes where pressure and tempera -ture pe rmit visible moisture to form. They usuallyoccur behind a weakening cold air mass as shownin picture 4.

Heavy cumulus or puffy clouds form by the riseof moist warm air to great heights. They occurmost freq uently over the oceans in the tropicaland subt ropi ca l regions. Picture 5 shows a largebuild-up of cumulonimbus clouds over the IndianOcean. They appear bright because these types ofclouds are thick and reflect more sunlight. Theybring thunderstorms, high winds, lightning, rain,and sometimes hail.

Spiral patterns produced in the wake of stable airpassing by subtropical mountainous islands of th eoceans are typified by picture No.6 . These uniquecloud structures are observed near the islandswest of Africa in the North Atlantic Ocean. Theyare known as "eddy patterns" and are usuallybelow 1000 feet in elevation and produce noapprec iab le wea ther effect.

Warm moist air flowing over a cooler land massproduces fog, which is the same as a low cloudor visible moisture. Picture 7 shows England out-lined by fog. This visible moisture near the groundis relatively thin and the TV camera sees i t asgrey.

When weathermen see these types of picturestaken by TIROS , they can interpret and predictthe weather .


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EFFECTIVE LIFE

TIROS LAUNCH DATE (days)

1 April 1960 77

II 23 Nov 1960 76

II I 12 Jul 1961 145

IV 8 Feb 1962 120

V 19 June 1962 330

VI 18 Sept 1962 388

VII 19 June 1963 active

VIII 21 Dec 1963 active

IX 22 Jan 1965 active

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EFFECTIVE LIFE

TIROS LAUNCH DATE (days)

1 April 1960 77

II 23 Nov 1960 76

II I 12 Jul 1961 145

IV 8 Feb 1962 120

V 19 June 1962 330

VI 18 Sept 1962 388

VII 19 June 1963 active

VIII 21 Dec 1963 active

IX 22 Jan 1965 active

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