Mesoscale and convective-scale characteristics of mature hurricanes. Part I: general observations by research aircraft.

Abstract

The analysis of instrumented aircraft data from four recent hurricanes reveals common mesoscale and convective-scale features. The structure and organization of the convection, precipitation, and wind flow are studied by combining the airborne observations, using basic instrumentation, with quantitative radar measurements. Three predominant precipitation features are seen: the eyewall, a stratiform rain region adjacent to and outside the eyewall, and rainbands that contain both convective and stratiform regions.-from Author