Hurricane Hunters Spot Hot Towers in Hurricane Rita
NASA has some 3-D images that hurricane hunters have been taking of Hurricane Rita. On the right is what NASA is calling a Hot Tower. Hot Towers are towering thunderstorms that may signify the onset of intensification in these high-octane storms. The images were taken back when Hurricane Rita was at her peak as a Cat 5 hurricane.
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite reveals a remarkable feature in this 3-D cat scan of Hurricane Rita - a pair of gigantic chimney clouds reaching more than 11 miles high. That is equivalent to 60,000 feet, or twice as high as a commercial airplane's cruising altitude. TRMM observed these hot towers in Hurricane Rita on September 19, 2005 during a period of brief intensification.
NASA has some 
