Tropical cyclone rainfall characteristics as determined from a satellite passive microwave radiometer.

Abstract

Data from the Nimbus-5 Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer (ESMR-5) have been used to calculate latent heat release (LHR) and other rainfall parameters for over 70 satellite observations of 21 tropical cyclones during 1973, 1974 and 1975 in the tropical N Pacific Ocean. The results indicate that the ESMR-5 measurements can be useful in determining the rainfall characteristics of these storms and appear to be potentially useful in monitoring as well as predicting their intensity. -from Authors