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NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick captured this image of Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean on July 1, 2024, while aboard the International Space Station, and posted it to X. The Category 4 hurricane had winds of about 130 mph (215 kph).<\/p>\n
Hurricanes \u2013 tropical cyclones that form over the Atlantic Ocean or the eastern Pacific Ocean \u2013 use warm, moist air as fuel. The warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface, causing an area of lower air pressure below. Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes into the low pressure area. Then that \u201cnew\u201d air becomes warm and moist and rises, too. As the warm air continues to rise, the surrounding air swirls in to take its place. As the warmed, moist air rises and cools off, the water in the air forms clouds. The whole system of clouds and wind spins and grows, fed by the ocean\u2019s heat and water evaporating from the surface.<\/p>\n
NASA studies hurricanes from space through photos like this one, as well as observations from satellites. This vantage point helps scientists understand how\u00a0climate change\u00a0impacts hurricanes and learn how communities can better prepare for tropical cyclones in a warmer world. Learn more about how hurricane first responders use NASA resources and data.<\/p>\n