NASA is keeping a wary eye on Tropical Storm Paloma, for more than one reason.

The first reason is normal NASA scientific research. The infrared image to the right is from the the space agency's Aqua satellite:
Some of the satellite data they're using comes from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument that flies on NASA's Aqua satellite. The data from AIRS is also used to create an accurate 3-D map of atmospheric temperature, water vapor and clouds, all of which are helpful to forecasters.

The infrared image, taken on Nov. 5 at 2:05 a.m. EDT (7:05 UTC) shows a huge temperature difference between the tops of the clouds in a tropical cyclone and the warm ocean waters that power it. The lowest temperatures (in purple) are associated with high, cold cloud tops that make up the top of the storm. Those temperatures are as cold as or colder than 220 degrees Kelvin or minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (F). The blue areas are around 240 degrees Kelvin, or minus 27F.

The National Hurricane Center discussion uses cloud temperature as one factor in determining whether a tropical cyclone is strengthening. When cloud temperatures get colder, it means that clouds are getting higher. Building clouds indicate a lot of "uplift" in the atmosphere and stronger thunderstorms. The discussion on Nov. 6 noted "satellite imagery is showing increasing organization...with cloud tops colder than -80 Celsius (minus 112 F) occurring just west of the center. Based on the flight-level winds the depression is upgraded to Tropical Storm Paloma with 35-knot (40 mph) winds."
Another reason for keeping an eye on Paloma: Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to launch at 7:55 p.m. EST on Nov. 14 from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Although right now the storm isn't projected to hit KSC, tropical storms are notoriously tempermental and prone to make sudden changes.
NASA is still recuperating from three recent hurricanes--Ike, Gustav, and Fay--that shut down NASA centers in three states. Ike caused considerable damage at Johnson Space Center, home of Mission Control, in Houston, TX.

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