FIGURE 6.1: A cross-sectional view of Hurricane Katrina through the eye of the storm, as observed from TRMM. This image shows the horizontal distribution of rain intensity on August 28, 2005, when Katrina was a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 knots (115 mph). Rain rates in the central portion of the swath are from the TRMM precipitation radar, and the rain rates in the outer swath are from the TRMM microwave imager. The rain rates are overlaid on infrared data from the TRMM visible infrared scanner. Two isolated hot towers (in red) are visible: one in an outer rain band and the other in the northeastern part of the eyewall. The height of the eyewall tower is 16 km. Towers of this height near the core are often an indication of intensification as was true with Katrina, which became a Category 4 storm soon after this image was taken.

SOURCE: NASA (2005)