NASA sees 1 area of strength in Tropical Storm Emang

Public release date: 16-Jan-2013
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Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Tropical Storm Emang continues to move through open waters in the Southern Indian Ocean and NASA's TRMM satellite noticed one area of heavy rainfall near the center.

On Jan. 16 at 0702 UTC (2:02 a.m. EST) NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Emang, and captured rainfall rates. TRMM identified that moderate rain was falling throughout most of the tropical cyclone, and heavy rainfall was occurring near the storm's center. TRMM estimated the heavy rain falling at a rate of 2 inches (50 mm) per hour.

On Jan. 16 at 0900 UTC (4 a.m. EST), Tropical Storm Emang had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/64.8 kph). Emang was located near 14.2 south latitude and 77.7 east longitude, about 580 nautical miles (667.5 miles/1,074 km) southeast of Diego Garcia. Emang is moving slowly to the west at 3 knots (3.4 mph/5.5 kph). Emang is currently not a threat to any land areas.

Emang is expected track west-southwest and may affect La Reunion Island by Jan. 21. However, as it tracks west, after briefly intensifying, wind shear and cooler water temperatures are expected to weaken the storm.

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Public release date: 16-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Tropical Storm Emang continues to move through open waters in the Southern Indian Ocean and NASA's TRMM satellite noticed one area of heavy rainfall near the center.

On Jan. 16 at 0702 UTC (2:02 a.m. EST) NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite passed over Emang, and captured rainfall rates. TRMM identified that moderate rain was falling throughout most of the tropical cyclone, and heavy rainfall was occurring near the storm's center. TRMM estimated the heavy rain falling at a rate of 2 inches (50 mm) per hour.

On Jan. 16 at 0900 UTC (4 a.m. EST), Tropical Storm Emang had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/64.8 kph). Emang was located near 14.2 south latitude and 77.7 east longitude, about 580 nautical miles (667.5 miles/1,074 km) southeast of Diego Garcia. Emang is moving slowly to the west at 3 knots (3.4 mph/5.5 kph). Emang is currently not a threat to any land areas.

Emang is expected track west-southwest and may affect La Reunion Island by Jan. 21. However, as it tracks west, after briefly intensifying, wind shear and cooler water temperatures are expected to weaken the storm.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/nsfc-nso011613.php

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New robotic fish glides indefinitely

Jan. 16, 2013 ? A high-tech robotic fish hatched at Michigan State University has a new look. A new skill. And a new name.

MSU scientists have made a number of improvements on the fish, including the ability to glide long distances, which is the most important change to date. The fish now has the ability to glide through the water practically indefinitely, using little to no energy, while gathering valuable data that can aid in the cleaning of our lakes and rivers.

Designed and built by Xiaobo Tan, MSU associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and his team, the fish is equipped with an array of sensors that not only allow it to travel autonomously, but also measure water temperature, quality and other pertinent facts.

"Swimming requires constant flapping of the tail," Tan said, "which means the battery is constantly being discharged and typically wouldn't last more than a few hours."

The disadvantage to gliding, he said, is that it is slower and less maneuverable.

"This is why we integrated both locomotion modes -- gliding and swimming -- in our robot," Tan said. "Such integration also allows the robot to adapt to different environments, from shallow streams to deep lakes, from calm ponds to rivers, with rapid currents."

The robot's ability to glide is achieved through a newly installed pump that pushes water in and out of the fish, depending on if the scientists want the robot to ascend or descend. Also, the robot's battery pack sits on a kind of rail that moves backward and forward, in sync with the pumping action, to allow the robot to glide through water on a desired path.

The robotic fish now has a name: Grace, which stands for "Gliding Robot ACE."

Late last year Tan and his team took Grace for a test drive on the Kalamazoo River, where it exceeded all expectations.

"She swam at three sites along the river and wirelessly sent back sensor readings," Tan said. "I'm not sure, but we may have set a world record -- demonstrating robotic fish-based sampling with commercial water-quality sensors in a real-world environment."

The KalamazooRiver is, of course, the site of a 2010 oil spill. Interestingly, the robot's crude oil sensor had some readings upriver from where the spill occurred, although the readings downstream from the spill site were higher.

Underwater gliders, or seagliders, are becoming more common in oceanography. In fact, one traveled all the way across the Atlantic Ocean in late 2009.

One major difference in Grace is that, aside from its swimming capability, it is about 10 times smaller and lighter than a commercial underwater glider.

Tan's research is supported by the National Science Foundation.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Michigan State University.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/HEkizn3AuV0/130116164517.htm

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