Air Sea Interaction
This image from October 28, 2012 shows the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere and sea surface temperatures. Super storm Sandy can be seen off the East coast of the United States as she strengthened due to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. Moist air rises over warm water, seen in orange and red, and provides the fuel necessary to strengthen tropical storms. As storms pass over colder waters, seen in blues and greens, tropical storms begin to weaken due to the lack of energy-laden moist air rising from the sea surface.

Rick Kohrs, staff, Space Science and Engineering Center