NASA video tracks 2008 hurricane season

WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- NASA scientists using satellite data say they've produced a downloadable video outlining last year's Atlantic tropical depressions, storms and hurricanes.

"Thanks to NASA technology and satellite data coupled with data from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-operated satellite, you can see the tracks of storms from Arthur to Paloma from birth to death," NASA said in a statement.

There were 17 tropical cyclones during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, which includes the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Sixteen storms were strong enough to be named, and only one remained a tropical depression.

NASA said it also plans to record the 2009 hurricane season in a similar fashion.

The 2008 video depicts the entire hurricane season from May 1 to Nov. 18. There are several versions of the video and all are available at http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/text/hurricane_alley_2008.html.