Wind shear can push clouds and thunderstorms away from the center of a tropical cyclone, and that is exactly what NASA’s Terra satellite observed in the newly formed Tropical Storm 07W.

Using infrared light, Terra analyzed the storm’s intensity and found that most of the strongest storms were concentrated on the eastern side. Infrared data measures temperature, and the coldest cloud tops indicate the most powerful thunderstorms that extend high into the atmosphere.

Figure 1. Strength of Tropical Storm.

On July 25 at 9:15 a.m. EDT (1315 UTC), Terra’s Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) captured infrared data showing cloud top temperatures as low as minus 70°F (minus 56.6°C), signaling strong storms capable of producing heavy rainfall. The storm is experiencing moderate vertical wind shear from the southwest [1]. Wind shear measures changes in wind speed and direction with altitude, and in tropical cyclones—essentially rotating cylinders of wind—vertical alignment is crucial for maintaining or increasing strength. Shear can disrupt this alignment, displacing clouds and showers away from the storm’s center.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on July 25 that Tropical Storm 07W was near 27.5°N latitude and 137.4°E longitude, roughly 483 miles south-southwest of Yokosuka, Japan, moving north with maximum sustained winds of 35 knots (40 mph / 62 kph). Figure 1shows Strength of Tropical Storm.

JTWC forecasts indicate that 07W will continue north, and upon reaching Japan, it is expected to turn east-northeast and eventually dissipate.

Reference:

1. https://bioengineer.org/nasas-terra-satellite-finds-tropical-storm-07ws-strength-on-the-side/

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025), NASA’s Terra Satellite Detects Strength of Tropical Storm 07W from the Side, AnaTechMaz, pp.555