Tropical cyclone intensity determination through upper tropospheric aircraft reconnaissance.

Abstract

It is proposed that attention be given to the possibility of tropical cyclone intensity determination through upper-tropospheric jet aircraft reconnaissance. The cyclone's upper-level temperature anomaly and its gradient can be related to surface pressure and wind. Only the ordinary aircraft instrumentation for measuring temperature and pressure-altitude would be required. Jet flights are faster, longer ranged, and less turbulent (if echoes are avoided) than propeller flights.- from Author