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NOVA scienceNOW: Hurricanes

Program Overview

Learn about the potential impact a strong hurricane could have on New Orleans and see how NASA's new satellite technology may help scientists better forecast hurricane intensity.

This NOVA scienceNOW segment:

• focuses on the devastating impact a strong hurricane could have on New Orleans and scientists' efforts to predict the strength of hurricanes.

• explores the topographical factors that protect New Orleans while also placing it at great risk from a hurricane, including levees built to keep water out, the city's location below sea level and the continuing loss of wetlands.

• looks at NASA's new satellite technology that enables scientists to see the internal structure of hurricanes. Radar images of hot towers (violent storms within a storm) produced by this technology may one day help weather forecasters predict hurricane intensity.

Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program is taped off the air.