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Home > Outreach Materials > Posters > Hurricane Katrina Poster Image Descriptions |
| Hurricane Katrina Poster Description |
Tropical Storm Katrina developed on August 24, 2005 off the Atlantic Coast of South Florida, where warm ocean waters were favorable for storm intensification. Katrina crossed Florida as a Category 1 hurricane and moved into the hotter waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There Katrina rapidly intensified into a monster Category 5 hurricane. It weakened slightly before striking the Gulf Coast states of Mississippi and Alabama as a strong Category 4 storm with sustained winds near 140 mph (Category 3 winds were felt in Louisiana.). Wind, rain, and storm surges associated with the storm caused extensive devastation in all three states. At first, New Orleans survived the initial brunt of the storm. However, Katrina caused breeches in levees protecting the city. Subsequent flooding caused widespread destruction to the area.
Throughout its life cycle, Katrina was observed by many NASA satellite instruments. Four poster images provide examples of satellite observations of hurricanes that can lead to a better understanding of such storms, enabling better predictions of their development and movement. The AMSR-E sea surface temperature map shows, in effect, where more energy was available for Katrina’s development. SeaWinds wind field data, MISR cloud observations, and TRMM satellite instrument measurements of precipitation all provide information about the internal structure of the hurricane. High resolution (15 m) resolution ASTER images provide before and after views of the areas of New Orleans most affected by flooding from the breeched levees. The SEDAC population density map of the same area shows the large numbers of people that were living at risk from such flooding. Back to poster
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| AMSR-E SST Data |
| AMSR-E 3-day averaged sea surface temperatures show large areas of very warm water (over 86 degrees F) in the Gulf of Mexico that provided energy for the rapid development and intensification of Hurricane Katrina. These observations were made possible by the ability of microwave instruments like AMSR-E to “see” through clouds. Back to poster |
| SeaWinds Data |
| Data from the SeaWinds scatterometer show the distribution of winds within Hurricane Katrina as it was crossing the southeast coast of Florida as a category 1 storm. The storm packed maximum sustained winds of approximately 80 mph as it moved across the state into the Gulf of Mexico. Back to poster |
| MISR Cloud Data |
| MISR observed the strong convective development of Hurricane Katrina on August 27, 2005 as the storm drew energy from the very warm water in the Gulf of Mexico. The 3-D anaglyph shows relative cloud height variations and enhances the appearance of thin clouds. Katrina had developed into a category 3 hurricane at this point. Back to poster |
| TRMM Microwave Imager and Precipitation Radar Data |
| NASA’s TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) observed strong rain bands within Hurricane Katrina on August 28, 2005. The most intense precipitation seen in this image (2 inches per hour) is concentrated on the northeast side of the eye wall. Smaller average rain rates were observed in bands further from the center of the storm. Back to poster |
| Population Density Map |
| Katrina caused breeches in several levees protecting New Orleans, resulting in severe flooding, with some neighborhoods submerged under 20 feet of water. This population density map, prepared by the Socioeconomic Data Center (SEDAC), emphasizes the large number of people that were living in areas of New Orleans affected by severe inundation. Back to poster |
| ASTER Data (pre-flood) |
| The ASTER image provides a high spatial resolution (15 meters) view of the same parts of New Orleans covered in the population density map. The data from 2001 present a pre-flood view of the city. A companion ASTER image (described separately) shows a post-flood view of the same portion of New Orleans. Back to poster |
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| ASTER Data (post-flood) |
| This ASTER image acquired September 13, 2005 shows flooded areas of the city several days after pumping efforts began lowering water levels. Areas of flooding appear much darker than they do in the pre-flood image of the same region. Back to poster |
