scholarly journals Tropical Cyclone Wind Retrievals from the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit: Application to Surface Wind Analysis

2006 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kotaro Bessho ◽  
Mark DeMaria ◽  
John A. Knaff
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Wind Direction ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Wind Fields ◽  
Directional Bias ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Research Division ◽  
Microwave Sounding Unit ◽  
Microwave Sounding ◽  
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit

Abstract Horizontal winds at 850 hPa from tropical cyclones retrieved using the nonlinear balance equation, where the mass field was determined from Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) temperature soundings, are compared with the surface wind fields derived from NASA's Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) and Hurricane Research Division H*Wind analyses. It was found that the AMSU-derived wind speeds at 850 hPa have linear relations with the surface wind speeds from QuikSCAT or H*Wind. There are also characteristic biases of wind direction between AMSU and QuikSCAT or H*Wind. Using this information to adjust the speed and correct for the directional bias, a new algorithm was developed for estimation of the tropical cyclone surface wind field from the AMSU-derived 850-hPa winds. The algorithm was evaluated in two independent cases from Hurricanes Floyd (1999) and Michelle (2001), which were observed simultaneously by AMSU, QuikSCAT, and H*Wind. In this evaluation the AMSU adjustment algorithm for wind speed worked well. Results also showed that the bias correction algorithm for wind direction has room for improvement.

An Automated, Objective, Multiple-Satellite-Platform Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 2149-2166 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Knaff ◽  
Mark DeMaria ◽  
Debra A. Molenar ◽  
Charles R. Sampson ◽  
Matthew G. Seybold
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Wind Fields ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Wind Retrieval ◽  
Research Division ◽  
Satellite Platform ◽  
Wind Analysis

AbstractA method to estimate objectively the surface wind fields associated with tropical cyclones using only data from multiple satellite platforms and satellite-based wind retrieval techniques is described. The analyses are computed on a polar grid using a variational data-fitting method that allows for the application of variable data weights to input data. The combination of gross quality control and the weighted variational analysis also produces wind estimates that have generally smaller errors than do the raw input data. The resulting surface winds compare well to the NOAA Hurricane Research Division H*Wind aircraft reconnaissance–based surface wind analyses, and operationally important wind radii estimated from these wind fields are shown to be generally more accurate than those based on climatological data. Most important, the analysis system produces global tropical cyclone surface wind analyses and related products every 6 h—without aircraft reconnaissance data. Also, the analysis and products are available in time for consideration by forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, and the National Hurricane Center in preparing their forecasts and advisories. This Multiplatform Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Analysis (MTCSWA) product is slated to become an operationally supported product at the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS). The input data, analysis method, products, and verification statistics associated with the MTCSWA are discussed within.

scholarly journals Warm Core Structures in Organized Cloud Clusters Developing or Not Developing into Tropical Storms Observed by the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (7) ◽  
pp. 2624-2643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kotaro Bessho ◽  
Tetsuo Nakazawa ◽  
Shuji Nishimura ◽  
Koji Kato
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Anomaly ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Tropical Storms ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Temperature Anomalies ◽  
Warm Core ◽  
Cloud Clusters ◽  
Microwave Sounding Unit ◽  
Microwave Sounding ◽  
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit

Abstract The temperature profiles of organized cloud clusters developing or not developing (nondeveloping) into tropical storms (TSs; maximum surface wind >34 kt) over the western North Pacific in 2004 were investigated using Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) observations in combination with the independently created early stage Dvorak analysis. Typical temperature profiles of the developing and nondeveloping cloud clusters were compared. From this comparison, positive upper-troposphere temperature anomalies were found in both cluster types; however, the spatial extent of the temperature anomalies for the developing cloud clusters was larger than those of the nondeveloping cloud clusters. Statistical analysis was performed on the temperature anomalies near the center of all clusters retrieved from AMSU observational data. Findings indicate that the area-average temperature anomalies increased along with the intensity of the clusters indicated by the Dvorak T-number classification. Using time series analysis of upper-level temperature anomalies associated with these cloud clusters, a definition of warm core structures showing the temperature anomaly greater than a threshold (WCT) was created. WCT exists when the area averaged temperature anomaly exceeds 0.9 K. Using this definition, almost 70% of the cloud clusters that had WCTs later became TSs, while 85% of those that did not have WCTs eventually dissipated without being classified as a TS. For the WCT clusters that developed into TSs, the lead time from the detection of their AMSU-based WCT to their classification as TSs was 27.7 h. These results indicate that there is a good possibility that the detection and forecasting of tropical cyclone formation, particularly those storms that later may become classified as TSs, will be improved using temperature anomalies derived from AMSU data.

scholarly journals Topographic Speed-Up Effects and Observed Roof Damage on Bermuda following Hurricane Fabian (2003)

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Miller ◽  
Michael Gibbons ◽  
Kyle Beatty ◽  
Auguste Boissonnade
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Research Division ◽  
Hurricane Wind ◽  
Layer Flow ◽  
Observed Damage

Abstract In this study the impacts of the topography of Bermuda on the damage patterns observed following the passage of Hurricane Fabian over the island on 5 September 2003 are considered. Using a linearized model of atmospheric boundary layer flow over low-slope topography that also incorporates a model for changes of surface roughness, sets of directionally dependent wind speed adjustment factors were calculated for the island of Bermuda. These factors were then used in combination with a time-stepping model for the open water wind field of Hurricane Fabian derived from the Hurricane Research Division Real-Time Hurricane Wind Analysis System (H*Wind) surface wind analyses to calculate the maximum 1-min mean wind speed at locations across the island for the following conditions: open water, roughness changes only, and topography and roughness changes combined. Comparison of the modeled 1-min mean wind speeds and directions with observations from a site on the southeast coast of Bermuda showed good agreement between the two sets of values. Maximum open water wind speeds across the entire island showed very little variation and were of category 2 strength on the Saffir–Simpson scale. While the effects of surface roughness changes on the modeled wind speeds showed very little correlation with the observed damage, the effect of the underlying topography led to maximum modeled wind speeds of category 4 strength being reached in highly localized areas on the island. Furthermore, the observed damage was found to be very well correlated with these regions of topographically enhanced wind speeds, with a very clear trend of increasing damage with increasing wind speeds.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document