(MODIS) on NASA’s Terra captured this image on September 14, 2009.">

Tropical Storm Koppu

Tropical Storm Koppu

Tropical Storm Koppu was nearing landfall over southern China when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra captured this image on September 14, 2009. A thick disk of clouds, embedded with thunderstorms, arcs across the South China Sea. North of the storm, the spiraling bands of clouds appear to be disrupted by interaction with land.

NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center. Caption by Rebecca Lindsey.