Hurricane Season 2008: Fame (Southern Indian)
Feb. 1, 2008
TRMM Captures Twin Cyclones in Southern Indian Ocean
Two cyclones were captured in close proximity to each other by the Tropical
Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (or TRMM) on two separate occasions: Fame, once a Category 1 cyclone that re-emerged over open
water after crossing Madagascar, and Gula, a slightly stronger cyclone passing
southward through the east-central portion of the Indian Ocean just east of the island of
The cyclones are visible in the same overpass both times. The first image
was taken at 14:43 UTC (6:43 pm local time) Jan. 29, 2008, and shows the
horizontal distribution of rain intensity within the two storms. Rain rates
in the center swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), the first
precipitation radar in space, while rain rates in the outer swath are from
the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI).
The rain rates are overlaid on infrared
(IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). At the time of this
image, Gula in the upper right was a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained
winds estimated at 80 knots (92 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
It reached a peak intensity of 85 knots after this image was taken. Fame,
meanwhile, was a much weaker tropical storm with maximum sustained winds
estimated at 35 knots (40 mph). Neither system has a defined eye, nor is very well organized.
When the circulations of two cyclones come within
close proximity to each other, they can interact. One possible interaction
is known as the Fujiwara effect, wherein the cyclones begin to circle around
one another and draw closer together. Sometimes
the stronger circulation can impede or dominate the weaker one and absorb it.
The second image taken two days later at 13:01 UTC (5:01 pm local time) on
January 31 shows the centers (denoted by the red symbols) are much
closer together. The fact that their orientation relative to one another
has also changed in a cyclonic sense indicates that their likely was some
interaction between the two storms. Also, both storms have weakened. Fame
located on the left has weakened to a tropical depression while Guna has
weakened to a tropical storm. Fame caused widespread damage as it passed
over Madagascar and is being blamed for 2 deaths there.
TRMM is a joint mission between NASA and the Japanese space agency JAXA.
Steve Lang, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Science Systems and Applications Incorporated
Jan. 31, 2008
Fame is Fleeting; Nearby Gula Heads South
On January 31, forecasters are eyeing two cyclones in the Southern Indian Ocean,
Fame and Gula. Gula is located to the northeast of a rapidly weakening Cyclone
At 12:00 GMT (7 a.m. EST) on Jan. 31, Tropical Cyclone Fame was located
approximately 230 nautical miles west-southwest of La Reunion, near 22.7
degrees south latitude and 52.2 east longitude. Fame has tracked
west-southwestward recently at 8 knots (9 mph). Fame's winds are down to 35
knots (40 mph), and Fame truly is fleeting.
At the same time, Tropical Cyclone Gula was located near 22.0 degrees south
latitude and 58.4 degrees east longitude, or 170 nautical miles east-southeast
of La Reunion. Gula is a stronger cyclone than Fame, packing maximum sustained
winds of 45 knots (52 mph). Gula is moving faster than Fame, and has tracked
south-southwest near 20 knots (23 mph) recently.
Computer models project that Fame will either dissipate or be absorbed into
nearby Tropical Cyclone Gula in the next 24 hours.
This image of Fame and Gula was created on Jan. 30 at 21:11 GMT (4:11 p.m. EST)
by data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), an instrument that flies
aboard NASA's Aqua satellite.
This AIRS image shows the temperature of the cloud tops or the surface of the
Earth in cloud-free regions. The lowest temperatures (in purple) are associated
with high, cold cloud tops that make up the top of the storms. Fame is located
in the bottom left of the image, and a more well-organized Gula is located in
the center of the image, just to the northeast of Fame.
The infrared signal of the AIRS instrument does not penetrate through clouds.
Where there are no clouds the AIRS instrument reads the infrared signal from
the surface of the Earth, revealing warmer temperatures (red).
Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Jan. 28, 2008
Tropical Cyclone Fame -- It Won't Live Forever...
Unlike the popular 1980s pop music song Tropical Cyclone "Fame" on the southern Indian Ocean won't live forever. In fact, it was born over the last weekend, and as of Monday, Jan. 28, no longer even qualifies as a tropical cyclone!
Early in the day on Jan. 28, Fame, also known as tropical cyclone 13S, was located at 18.1 degrees south latitude and 46.4 degrees east longitude, or 70 miles northwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 knots (46 mph) and was fading fast as it moved east-southeast at 13 knots (15 mph).
The low pressure centre is expected to reemerge into the Indian Ocean southeast of Madagascar, and will be closely monitored for signs of regeneration. Atmospheric conditions in that particular area are not favorable.
This image of Funa was created on Jan. 28 at 10:35 GMT (5:35 a.m. EST) by data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), an instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite.
This AIRS image shows the temperature of the cloud tops or the surface of the Earth in cloud-free regions. The lowest temperatures (in purple) are associated with high, cold cloud tops that make up the top of the storm. The image on Jan. 28 shows the clouds of the storm stretched out, and the center is no longer visible.
The image from Jan. 26 at 10:47 GMT (5:47 a.m.) shows a stronger more organized storm, as the circular pattern is visible. At that time, Fame was a category one hurricane, packing sustained winds of 65 knots (75 mph). At that time Fame was located 310 miles north-northwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The infrared signal of the AIRS instrument does not penetrate through clouds. Where there are no clouds the AIRS instrument reads the infrared signal from the surface of the Earth, revealing warmer temperatures (red).
Rob Gutro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center