Satellite-derived normalized difference convection index for typhoon observations

Abstract

© 2015 The Authors. This study used the spectral features of the geostationary satellite infrared window channel and the water vapor channel data to calculate a new parameter, normalized difference convection index (NDCI), to help determine the overshooting areas in typhoon cloud systems and the centers and intensity of typhoons. The results showed that the two-dimensional NDCI analysis helped to identify typhoon convective cloud systems and the positions of overshooting areas. In addition, because the NDCI values near a typhoon eye were rather significant, if a typhoon eye was formed, the NDCI cross-section analysis could help to confirm its position. When the center of a typhoon was covered by the high anvils and cirrus layers, it could still be qualitatively found through two-dimensional analysis. As for determining the intensity of typhoons, this study also tried to perform correlation analyses with NDCI and maximum sustained wind speed. The result showed that in the ranges within circles of 200 to 250 km radii with a typhoon eye as the center, the correlation between the area with the NDCI values > 0 and the maximum sustained wind speed is high with a coefficient 0.7. Thus, the NDCI value could be a referential index to determine the intensity of a typhoon.