August 24, 2013 - Typhoon Pewa (01C) in the central Pacific Ocean

Typhoon Pewa (01C) in the central Pacific Ocean

On August 19, 2013 the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) passed over the northwestern Pacific Ocean and captured this true-color image of Typhoon Pewa. At that time, the storm had developed a tight apostrophe shape, and a small, clear eye that was surrounded by dense thunderstorm-bearing clouds.

The storm developed from a low-pressure area near Johnson Atoll in the Central Pacific Ocean on August 16 – an area that sees few tropical storms. On August 18 Pewa remained at tropical storm strength as it passed over the International Date Line and moved from the Central Pacific to the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. By the next day, shortly before this image was captured Pewa strengthened to typhoon status.

Typhoon Pewa continued on a northwest course over open ocean until August 23, when it weakened to a tropical depression. At that time, wind shear had not only weakened the storm, but also pushed precipitation away from Pewa’s center.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 8/19/2013
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC