Hurricanes and tropical meteorology.

Abstract

A few examples of scientific accomplishments in tropical meteorology and hurricane research are presented. Tropical field experiments such as GATE have greatly influenced observational studies of convection and tropical easterly waves. One application of the study of convection is the attempt to estimate precipitation from satellite platforms. Research in tropical cyclones has further improved the definition of large scale structure and the environment in which the hurricane grows. Radiation, convection, and air/sea interaction studies are directed at the forcing and possible feedback of the hurricane with its environment. With this improved physical understanding, numerical modelling of hurricanes can now produce position forecasts or reasonable accuracy that are becoming competitive with current statistical dynamical methods. There is a continuing effort to attempt hurricane modification experiments in conjunction with an adequate measurement programme. (A)