Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Relationships between Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Satellite-Based Indicators of Inner Core Convection: 85-GHz Ice-Scattering Signature and Lightning

Daniel J. Cecil Department of Meteorology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Search for other papers by Daniel J. Cecil in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
and
Edward J. Zipser Department of Meteorology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Search for other papers by Edward J. Zipser in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Jan 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1999)127<0103:RBTCIA>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
103–123
Restricted access

Abstract

A key component in the maintenance and intensification of tropical cyclones is the transverse circulation, which transports mass and momentum and provides latent heat release via inner core convective updrafts. This study examines these updrafts indirectly, using satellite-borne observations of the scattering of upwelling microwave radiation by precipitation-sized ice particles and satellite-borne observations of lightning. The observations are then compared to tropical cyclone intensity (defined here as maximum sustained wind speed) and the resulting relationships are assessed. Substantial updrafts produce large ice particles aloft, which in turn produce microwave ice-scattering signatures. The large ice, together with supercooled liquid water also generated by substantial updrafts, is a necessary ingredient in charge separation, which leads to lightning. Various parameters derived from the inner core ice-scattering signature are computed for regions encircling hurricanes and typhoons, and observations of lightning activity or inactivity are analyzed.

High correlations with future tropical cyclone intensity result from the ice-scattering signature parameters most closely associated with the areal extent of at least moderate precipitation rates. As expected, the relationship reveals increasing intensity with increasing ice-scattering signature. Indicators of more intense convection yield less information concerning tropical cyclone intensity. Correlations tend to be of the same sign for both present cyclone intensity at the time of the satellite overpass and subsequent intensity change. Correlations are higher for future cyclone intensity than for either of these. The lightning observations are much more limited than the microwave observations, because the short amount of time in which lightning can be detected may not adequately represent a particular storm’s electrical activity. The inner core lightning observations show no clear relationship to tropical cyclone intensification. However, the lightning observations do suggest an increased likelihood of inner core lightning in weak tropical storms and strong hurricanes/typhoons. In the examination of case studies, the paradoxical situation of much greater lightning frequency in rainbands than in eyewalls is noted.

Corresponding author address: Daniel J. Cecil, Dept. of Meteorology, Eller O&M Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3150.

Abstract

A key component in the maintenance and intensification of tropical cyclones is the transverse circulation, which transports mass and momentum and provides latent heat release via inner core convective updrafts. This study examines these updrafts indirectly, using satellite-borne observations of the scattering of upwelling microwave radiation by precipitation-sized ice particles and satellite-borne observations of lightning. The observations are then compared to tropical cyclone intensity (defined here as maximum sustained wind speed) and the resulting relationships are assessed. Substantial updrafts produce large ice particles aloft, which in turn produce microwave ice-scattering signatures. The large ice, together with supercooled liquid water also generated by substantial updrafts, is a necessary ingredient in charge separation, which leads to lightning. Various parameters derived from the inner core ice-scattering signature are computed for regions encircling hurricanes and typhoons, and observations of lightning activity or inactivity are analyzed.

High correlations with future tropical cyclone intensity result from the ice-scattering signature parameters most closely associated with the areal extent of at least moderate precipitation rates. As expected, the relationship reveals increasing intensity with increasing ice-scattering signature. Indicators of more intense convection yield less information concerning tropical cyclone intensity. Correlations tend to be of the same sign for both present cyclone intensity at the time of the satellite overpass and subsequent intensity change. Correlations are higher for future cyclone intensity than for either of these. The lightning observations are much more limited than the microwave observations, because the short amount of time in which lightning can be detected may not adequately represent a particular storm’s electrical activity. The inner core lightning observations show no clear relationship to tropical cyclone intensification. However, the lightning observations do suggest an increased likelihood of inner core lightning in weak tropical storms and strong hurricanes/typhoons. In the examination of case studies, the paradoxical situation of much greater lightning frequency in rainbands than in eyewalls is noted.

Corresponding author address: Daniel J. Cecil, Dept. of Meteorology, Eller O&M Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3150.

Save
Cover Monthly Weather Review
Monthly Weather Review

  • Adler, R. F., G. J. Huffman, and P. R. Keehn, 1994: Global tropical rain estimates from microwave-adjusted geosynchronous IR data. Remote Sens. Rev.,11, 125–152.

  • Black, P. G., R. A. Black, J. Hallett, and W. A. Lyons, 1986: Electrical activity of the hurricane. Preprints, 23d Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Snowmass, CO, Amer. Meteor. Soc., J277–J280.

  • Black, M. L., R. W. Burpee, and F. D. Marks Jr., 1996: Vertical motion characteristics of tropical cyclones determined with airborne Doppler radial velocities. J. Atmos. Sci.,53, 1887–1909.

  • Black, R. A., and J. Hallett, 1986: Observations of the distribution of ice in hurricanes. J. Atmos. Sci.,43, 802–822.

  • ——, H. B. Bluestein, and M. L. Black, 1994: Unusually strong vertical motions in a Caribbean hurricane. Mon. Wea. Rev.,122, 2722–2739.

  • Cecil, D. J., 1997: Relationships between tropical cyclone intensity and satellite based inicators of inner core convection: 85 GHz ice scattering signature and lightning. M.S. thesis, Dept. of Meteorology, Texas A&M University, 125 pp. [Available from Evans Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.].

  • Christian, H. J., R. J. Blakeslee, and S. J. Goodman, 1989: The detection of lightning from geostationary orbit. J. Geophys. Res.,94, 13 329–13 337.

  • DeMaria, M., J. Baik, and J. Kaplan, 1993: Upper level eddy angular momentum flux and tropical cyclone intensity change. J. Atmos. Sci.,50, 1133–1147.

  • Dvorak, V. F., 1984: Tropical cyclone intensity analysis using satellite data. NOAA Tech. Rep. NESDIS 11, 47 pp.

  • Glass, M., and G. W. Felde, 1992: Intensity estimation of tropical cyclones using SSM/I brightness temperatures. Preprints, Sixth Conf. on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Atlanta, GA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., J8–J10.

  • Goodman, S. J., and H. J. Christian, 1993: Global observations of lightning. Atlas of Satellite Observations Related to Global Change, R. J. Gurney, J. L. Foster, and C. L. Parkinson, Eds., Cambridge University Press, 191–219.

  • ———, and Coauthors, 1996: The optical transient detector: First results. Preprints, Eighth Conf. on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography, Atlanta, GA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 583–587.

  • Henning, R. G., 1997: Electrically active mesoscale convective complexes and their link to explosive tropical cyclogenesis. Preprints, 22d Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Ft. Collins, CO, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 129–130.

  • Holliday, C. R., and A. H. Thompson, 1979: Climatological characteristics of rapidly intensifying typhoons. Mon. Wea. Rev.,107, 1022–1034.

  • Hollinger, J. T., 1991: DMSP Special Sensor Microwave/imager calibration/validation final report, vol. II. Naval Research Laboratory, 12–25. [Available from Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375.].

  • Illingworth, A. J., 1985: Charge separation in thunderstorms: Small scale processes. J. Geophys. Res.,90, 6026–6032.

  • Jorgensen, D. P., E. J. Zipser, and M. A. LeMone, 1985: Vertical motions in intense hurricanes. J. Atmos. Sci.,42, 839–856.

  • JTWC, 1995: Annual tropical cyclone report. 289 pp. [Available from U.S. Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Command Center West, Guam, PSC 489 Box 12, FPO AP 96536-0051.].

  • Lander, M. A., and M. D. Angove, 1998: Eastern Hemisphere tropical cyclones of 1995. Mon. Wea. Rev.,126, 257–280.

  • Lascody, R. A., 1992: A different look at Hurricane Andrew—Lightning around the eyewall. Natl. Wea. Dig.,17, 39–40.

  • Lyons, W. A., and C. S. Keen, 1994: Observations of lightning in convective supercells within tropical storms and hurricanes. Mon. Wea. Rev.,122, 1897–1916.

  • Marks, F. D., Jr., 1985: Evolution of the structure of precipitation in Hurricane Allen (1980). Mon. Wea. Rev.,113, 909–930.

  • ——, and R. A. Houze Jr., 1987: Inner core structure of Hurricane Alicia from airborne Doppler radar observations. J. Atmos. Sci.,44, 1296–1317.

  • McGaughey, G., E. J. Zipser, R. W. Spencer, and R. E. Hood, 1996:High-resolution passive microwave observations of convective systems over the Tropical Pacific Ocean. J. Appl. Meteor.,35, 1921–1947.

  • Merrill, R. T., 1988: Environmental influences on hurricane intensification. J. Atmos. Sci.,45, 1678–1687.

  • Mohr, K. I., and E. J. Zipser, 1996a: Defining mesoscale convective systems by their 85-GHz ice scattering signature. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,77, 1179–1189.

  • ——, and ——, 1996b: Mesoscale convective systems defined by their 85-GHz ice scattering signature: Size and intensity comparison over tropical oceans and continents. Mon. Wea. Rev.,124, 2417–2437.

  • ——, E. R. Toracinta, E. J. Zipser, and R. E. Orville, 1996: A comparison of WSR-88D reflectivities, SSM/I brightness temperatures, and lightning for mesoscale convective systems in Texas. Part II: SSM/I brightness temperatures and lightning. J. Appl. Meteor.,35, 919–931.

  • Molinari, J., P. K. Moore, V. P. Idone, R. W. Henderson, and A. B. Saljoughy, 1994: Cloud-to-ground lightning in Hurricane Andrew. J. Geophys. Res.,99, 16 665–16 676.

  • ——, S. Skubis, and D. Vollaro, 1995: External influences on hurricane intensity. Part III: Potential vorticity structure. J. Atmos. Sci.,52, 3593–3606.

  • ——, P. Moore, and V. Idone, 1999: Convective structure of hurricanes as revealed by lightning locations. Mon. Wea. Rev., in press.

  • Orville, R. E., and R. W. Henderson, 1986: Global distribution of midnight lightning: September 1977 to August 1978. Mon. Wea. Rev.,114, 2640–2653.

  • Rao, G. V., and P. D. MacArthur, 1994: The SSM/I estimated rainfall amounts of tropical cyclones and their potential in predicting the cyclone intensity changes. Mon. Wea. Rev.,122, 1568–1574.

  • ——, and J. H. McCoy, 1997: SSM/I measured microwave brightness temperature (TB’s), anomalies of TB’s, and their relationship to typhoon intensification. Nat. Hazards,15, 1–19.

  • Restivo, M. E., 1995: The convective structures associated with cloud-to-ground lightning in TOGA COARE mesoscale convective systems. M.S. thesis, Dept. of Meteorology, Texas A&M University, 98 pp. [Available from Evans Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.].

  • Rodgers, E. B., and H. F. Pierce, 1995: A satellite observational study of precipitation characteristics in western North Pacific tropical cyclones. J. Appl. Meteor.,34, 2587–2599.

  • ——, S. W. Chang, and H. F. Pierce, 1994: A satellite observational and numerical study of precipitation characteristics in western North Atlantic tropical cyclones. J. Appl. Meteor.,33, 129–139.

  • Samsury, C. E., and R. E. Orville, 1994: Cloud-to-ground lightning in tropical cyclones: A study of Hurricanes Hugo (1989) and Jerry (1989). Mon. Wea. Rev.,122, 1887–1896.

  • ——, M. L. Black, P. P. Dodge, and R. E. Orville, 1997: Utilization of airborne and NEXRAD data in the analysis of cloud-to-ground lightning in 1995 and 1996 tropical cyclones. Preprints, 22d Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Ft. Collins, CO, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 125–126.

  • Schubert, W. H., and J. J. Hack, 1982: Inertial stability and tropical cyclone development. J. Atmos. Sci.,39, 1687–1697.

  • Shapiro, L. J., and H. E. Willoughby, 1982: The response of balanced hurricanes to local sources of heat and momentum. J. Atmos. Sci.,39, 378–394.

  • Spencer, R. W., H. M. Goodman, and R. E. Hood, 1989: Precipitation retrieval over land and ocean with the SSM/I: Identification and characteristics of the scattering signal. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.,6, 254–273.

  • Willoughby, H. E., 1990: Temporal changes of the primary circulation in tropical cyclones. J. Atmos. Sci.,47, 242–264.

  • ——, D. P. Jorgensen, R. A. Black, and S. L. Rosenthal, 1985: Project Stormfury: A scientific chronicle 1962–1983. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,66, 505–514.

  • Zipser, E. J., 1994: Deep cumulonimbus cloud systems in the Tropics with and without lightning. Mon. Wea. Rev.,122, 1837–1851.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 2650 1872 82
PDF Downloads 729 114 10