NASA has been keeping a close eye on storm, Cristobal, for days. Agency scientists use the "Aqua" satellite, which works in infrared, to analyze the strength of storms in Cristobal, off Mexico. The data provides information about the temperatures, and the strongest thunderstorms that reach a certain height, in the atmosphere, especially those that have the coldest temperatures, as they can reach high altitudes, and thus be more rain and destruction. By means of NASA's satellite "MODIS" spectrometer, the researchers collected temperature information on the crest of Cristobal.
"Modes" found that several parts of the strong thunderstorm, which is currently moving off Central America, were very cold, reaching 56.6 degrees Celsius below zero.
Very cold temperatures, in clouds, indicate strong storms with the possibility of generating heavy rain. The areas concerned are later located on the Mexican Yucatan peninsula, in the northeast of Guatemala, and outside the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of the states of Chiapas and Mexico Oaxaca.
Hurricanes are the most powerful weather fluctuations on Earth. NASA's expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to basic services provided by other federal agencies, such as hurricane forecasting.