Western north Pacific tropical cyclone intensity estimation from NOAA polar-orbiting satellite microwave data

Abstract

Vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature derived from radiances remotely sensed by the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) onboard the current NOAA series of polar orbiting satellites are used to depict upper-tropospheric warm anomalies associated with these storms. Data from a large sample of western North Pacific tropical cyclones are used to develop a nonlinear statistical relationship between the satellite-depicted warm core anomalies and the surface intensities as measured by reconnaissance aircraft. Results based on an 82-case dependent sample indicate standard errors of 13mb and 15kt for estimates of the surface pressure anomalies and maximum wind speeds. -from Authors