Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

An Automated Method to Estimate Tropical Cyclone Intensity Using SSM/I Imagery

Richard L. Bankert Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, California

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Paul M. Tag Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, California

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Print Publication:
01 May 2002
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(2002)041<0461:AAMTET>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
461–472
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Abstract

An automated method to estimate tropical cyclone intensity using Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data is developed and tested. SSM/I images (512 km × 512 km) centered on a given tropical cyclone (TC), with a known best-track intensity, are collected for 142 different TCs (1988–98) from the North Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Over 100 characteristic features are computed from the 85-GHz (H-pol) imagery data and the derived rain-rate imagery data associated with each TC. Of the 1040 sample images, 942 are selected as training samples. These training samples are examined in a feature-selection algorithm to select an optimal subset of the characteristic features that could accurately estimate TC intensity on unknown samples in a K-nearest-neighbor (K-NN) algorithm. Using the 15 selected features as the representative vector and the best-track intensity as the ground truth, the 98 testing samples (taken from four TCs) are presented to the K-NN algorithm. A root-mean-square error (rmse) of 19.8 kt is produced. This “snapshot” approach is enhanced (rmse is 18.1 kt) when a TC intensity history feature is added to 71 of the 98 samples. Reconnaissance data are available for two recent (1999) Atlantic hurricanes, and a comparison is made in the rmse using those data as ground truth versus best track. For these two TCs (17 SSM/I images), an rmse of 15.6 kt is produced when best track is used and an rmse of 19.7 kt is produced when reconnaissance data are used as the ground truth.

Corresponding author address: Richard L. Bankert, Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA 93943-5502. bankert@nrlmry.navy.mil

Abstract

An automated method to estimate tropical cyclone intensity using Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) data is developed and tested. SSM/I images (512 km × 512 km) centered on a given tropical cyclone (TC), with a known best-track intensity, are collected for 142 different TCs (1988–98) from the North Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Over 100 characteristic features are computed from the 85-GHz (H-pol) imagery data and the derived rain-rate imagery data associated with each TC. Of the 1040 sample images, 942 are selected as training samples. These training samples are examined in a feature-selection algorithm to select an optimal subset of the characteristic features that could accurately estimate TC intensity on unknown samples in a K-nearest-neighbor (K-NN) algorithm. Using the 15 selected features as the representative vector and the best-track intensity as the ground truth, the 98 testing samples (taken from four TCs) are presented to the K-NN algorithm. A root-mean-square error (rmse) of 19.8 kt is produced. This “snapshot” approach is enhanced (rmse is 18.1 kt) when a TC intensity history feature is added to 71 of the 98 samples. Reconnaissance data are available for two recent (1999) Atlantic hurricanes, and a comparison is made in the rmse using those data as ground truth versus best track. For these two TCs (17 SSM/I images), an rmse of 15.6 kt is produced when best track is used and an rmse of 19.7 kt is produced when reconnaissance data are used as the ground truth.

Corresponding author address: Richard L. Bankert, Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, CA 93943-5502. bankert@nrlmry.navy.mil

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Cover Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology

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