1998 EARTH SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES |
| |
Tape Title | Record ID | Date Produced | TRT: |
Synposis |
| LA NINA CONDITIONS NOW EXTEND 6000 MILES | G98-049 | 10/26/98 | 00:10:46 | The latest data visualizations of conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean show that moderate to weak La Nina conditions are present and expected to continue for months to come. Presently, cooler than normal sea surface and subsurface water temperatures extend more than 6000 miles across the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
|
TAPE CONTENTS: |
| ITEM (1): EVOLUTION OF LA NINA - [Cross section from TAO array] - Cold water propagates to the east along the equatorial Pacific hastening El Nino's demise. This visualization combines satellite observations of sea surface height anomalies (from TOPEX/Poseidon), temperature anomalies (from AVHRR) and subsurface temperature anomalies (from TAO Array). Red colors indicate regions warmer than normal and blue regions indicate regions cooler than normal. Since June, the sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean have been 3-6 (f) colder than normal, sea level has been depressed 8-10 inches below normal.
|
| ITEM (2a): EVOLUTION OF EL NINO -- IN 3-D - Data from satellites trace the evolution of El Nino from its beginning in early 1997 through its decline this spring. The evolution of La Nina can be seen as a blue region along the equator. Presently, cooler than normal sea surface and subsurface water temperatures extend more than 6000 miles across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This data visualization combines satellite observations of sea surface height anomalies (from TOPEX/Poseidon), temperature anomalies (from AVHRR), and wind anomalies from (from DMSP).
ITEM (2b): ELEMENTS OF 3-D EL NINO - AVHRR - Temperature Anomalies from NOAA's AVHRR Satellite. Red colors indicate warmer than normal conditions associated with El Nino and Blue colors indicate cooler than normal temperatures associated the of La Nina.
ITEM (2c): ELEMENTS OF 3-D EL NINO - TOPEX - Sea Surface Levels Anomalies from NASA's TOPEX / Poseidon satellite Red colors indicate higher sea levels and blue color indicate lower levels.
|
| ITEM (3): SIZING UP THE BIG ONES - Side-by-side comparison of the two big El Nino's this century (1982-83 and 97-98). The 97-98 El Nino developed much more quickly than the 82-83 event. The 1982-83 El Nino eventually reversed and developed into a La Nina pattern towards the end of 1983. Scientists use data from previous El Ninos to develop models that help them better predict the evolution future El Nino and La Nina events. |
| ITEM (4): B-ROLL - Earth scientists studying the latest images.
|
| ITEM (5): INTERVIEW EXCERPTS WITH DR. ANTONIO BUSALACCHI, RESEARCH OCEANOGRAPHER, NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER |