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- Author or Editor: Gin-Rong Liu x
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Abstract
The movement of convective rainbands embedded in a tropical cyclone (TC) is usually derived from satellite images via the atmospheric motion vector (AMV) method or through the calculation of a radar’s echo track. In estimating the rotation speed of a TC rainband, however, the land-based radar can only detect approaching tropical cyclones within the vicinity. The AMV method is unable to fully account for the TC eyewall movement, thus making it difficult to estimate the TC intensity. The widely used method in estimating the TC maximum wind speed is the Dvorak technique in which the cloud pattern is extracted from only one image. In this study, the rainband rotation speeds are computed via satellite imagery and further applied in estimating the TC maximum wind speed. In contrast to previous research, this study adopts an innovative method by using two subsequent geostationary satellite images. The TC spin rates observed by weather satellites could often be seen to be positively related to the TC intensity. Analyses of the relationship between the typhoon wind intensity and estimated rotation speed at the 130–260-km ring via infrared channels are conducted for major typhoon cases that occurred during 2000–05 in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Results show that the correlation between the wind intensity and estimated rotation speeds is strong for most of the cases. The highest R 2 value from the individual cases could reach 0.93, and on an annual basis it could attain a value of 0.67. The mean R 2 value for the 2000–05 dataset was roughly 0.53. The correlation between the wind intensity and estimated rotation speeds is further improved by factoring in the previous 6-h average rotation speeds. A regression equation is derived from the chosen typhoon cases between 2000 and 2005, which is utilized in verifying the major typhoon occurrences during 2006–08. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the hourly and 6-h average intensity estimates during 2000–08 was 20 and 18.7 kt, respectively (1 kt ≃ 0.5 m s−1). The best verification result occurred during 2008, for which the R 2 value and MAE could reach 0.7 and 15.6, respectively. These research results demonstrate the suitability of using geostationary satellite image data in estimating the maximum wind speed. Nevertheless, the drawback of this study is that sometimes the rotation speeds will become slower when tropical cyclones mature because of the strong outflow of the secondary circulation. It is assumed that the relationship between the estimated rotation speeds and wind intensity can be further improved if the outflow speed of the tropical cyclones is also considered.
Abstract
The movement of convective rainbands embedded in a tropical cyclone (TC) is usually derived from satellite images via the atmospheric motion vector (AMV) method or through the calculation of a radar’s echo track. In estimating the rotation speed of a TC rainband, however, the land-based radar can only detect approaching tropical cyclones within the vicinity. The AMV method is unable to fully account for the TC eyewall movement, thus making it difficult to estimate the TC intensity. The widely used method in estimating the TC maximum wind speed is the Dvorak technique in which the cloud pattern is extracted from only one image. In this study, the rainband rotation speeds are computed via satellite imagery and further applied in estimating the TC maximum wind speed. In contrast to previous research, this study adopts an innovative method by using two subsequent geostationary satellite images. The TC spin rates observed by weather satellites could often be seen to be positively related to the TC intensity. Analyses of the relationship between the typhoon wind intensity and estimated rotation speed at the 130–260-km ring via infrared channels are conducted for major typhoon cases that occurred during 2000–05 in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Results show that the correlation between the wind intensity and estimated rotation speeds is strong for most of the cases. The highest R 2 value from the individual cases could reach 0.93, and on an annual basis it could attain a value of 0.67. The mean R 2 value for the 2000–05 dataset was roughly 0.53. The correlation between the wind intensity and estimated rotation speeds is further improved by factoring in the previous 6-h average rotation speeds. A regression equation is derived from the chosen typhoon cases between 2000 and 2005, which is utilized in verifying the major typhoon occurrences during 2006–08. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the hourly and 6-h average intensity estimates during 2000–08 was 20 and 18.7 kt, respectively (1 kt ≃ 0.5 m s−1). The best verification result occurred during 2008, for which the R 2 value and MAE could reach 0.7 and 15.6, respectively. These research results demonstrate the suitability of using geostationary satellite image data in estimating the maximum wind speed. Nevertheless, the drawback of this study is that sometimes the rotation speeds will become slower when tropical cyclones mature because of the strong outflow of the secondary circulation. It is assumed that the relationship between the estimated rotation speeds and wind intensity can be further improved if the outflow speed of the tropical cyclones is also considered.
Abstract
Many investigators have used satellite data to derive rainfall intensity and to compare them with rain gauge data. However, there has always been a problem: what is the optimal time period for the two different types of data? A set of well-controlled data collected by ground-based dual-frequency microwave radiometers at the National Central University (24.9°N, 121.1°E) in Taiwan between January of 1996 and December of 1997 was used to find the answer. The results show that a 1-h interval would be the optimal time period and that hourly data will provide a better accuracy than other options (5, 10, or 30 min or 2 h). Two algorithms, the differential and the brightness temperature, were established to estimate rainfall intensity using ground-based dual-frequency microwave brightness temperature and rain gauge data. The results show that the root-mean-square error and the correlation coefficient are 0.63 mm h−1 and 0.88, respectively, for the differential method, and 0.91 mm h−1 and 0.71 for the brightness temperature method. The analysis also shows that because the atmospheric background and environmental influence in the continuous observations are identical, the changes in brightness temperature are only caused from the changes in liquid water content in the air. That probably made the differential method a better choice for rainfall intensity estimation than the brightness temperature method. Moreover, ground-based radiometers measure downwelling radiation from bottom up, and little ice-particle scattering or horizontal inhomogeneity is involved. The results can be compared with retrievals from satellite microwave radiometers for a better understanding of the physics of microwave emission and scattering due to raindrops or ice particles.
Abstract
Many investigators have used satellite data to derive rainfall intensity and to compare them with rain gauge data. However, there has always been a problem: what is the optimal time period for the two different types of data? A set of well-controlled data collected by ground-based dual-frequency microwave radiometers at the National Central University (24.9°N, 121.1°E) in Taiwan between January of 1996 and December of 1997 was used to find the answer. The results show that a 1-h interval would be the optimal time period and that hourly data will provide a better accuracy than other options (5, 10, or 30 min or 2 h). Two algorithms, the differential and the brightness temperature, were established to estimate rainfall intensity using ground-based dual-frequency microwave brightness temperature and rain gauge data. The results show that the root-mean-square error and the correlation coefficient are 0.63 mm h−1 and 0.88, respectively, for the differential method, and 0.91 mm h−1 and 0.71 for the brightness temperature method. The analysis also shows that because the atmospheric background and environmental influence in the continuous observations are identical, the changes in brightness temperature are only caused from the changes in liquid water content in the air. That probably made the differential method a better choice for rainfall intensity estimation than the brightness temperature method. Moreover, ground-based radiometers measure downwelling radiation from bottom up, and little ice-particle scattering or horizontal inhomogeneity is involved. The results can be compared with retrievals from satellite microwave radiometers for a better understanding of the physics of microwave emission and scattering due to raindrops or ice particles.
Abstract
A method is developed that makes use of visible reflectance data to provide cloud information from the retrieval of atmospheric vertical soundings from VAS geostationary radiance observations. The technique enables estimates of fractional cloud amount for each 8–16 km VAS infrared field of view. Cloud top pressure is calculated using the CO2 slicing method or, for low-level opaque overcast cloud conditions, estimated from the VAS-observed, 11-μ,a window channel, effective brightness temperature, and the temperature profile. For semi-transparent cloud, the emissivity is obtained from the cloud level atmospheric temperature, which corresponds to the cloud top pressure derived from the CO2 slicing method, and VAS 11-μ window channel, effective brightness temperature. With the effective cloud amount and cloud top pressure, the proper clear and cloudy weighting functions of the radiative transfer equation (RTE) are specified, and a direct physical inverse solution of the RTE is used to produce vertical temperature and moisture soundings. Additionally, the surface skin temperature is also estimated as pan of the temperature and water vapor profile retrieval processes. The results obtained from the application of this technique are compared with surface hourly reports, radiosonde observations and vertical profiles from the retrieval method without visible data. The intermmparisons reveal that the use of visible channel data yields significant improvements both in the reliability and the accuracy of satellite derived atmospheric profiles.
Abstract
A method is developed that makes use of visible reflectance data to provide cloud information from the retrieval of atmospheric vertical soundings from VAS geostationary radiance observations. The technique enables estimates of fractional cloud amount for each 8–16 km VAS infrared field of view. Cloud top pressure is calculated using the CO2 slicing method or, for low-level opaque overcast cloud conditions, estimated from the VAS-observed, 11-μ,a window channel, effective brightness temperature, and the temperature profile. For semi-transparent cloud, the emissivity is obtained from the cloud level atmospheric temperature, which corresponds to the cloud top pressure derived from the CO2 slicing method, and VAS 11-μ window channel, effective brightness temperature. With the effective cloud amount and cloud top pressure, the proper clear and cloudy weighting functions of the radiative transfer equation (RTE) are specified, and a direct physical inverse solution of the RTE is used to produce vertical temperature and moisture soundings. Additionally, the surface skin temperature is also estimated as pan of the temperature and water vapor profile retrieval processes. The results obtained from the application of this technique are compared with surface hourly reports, radiosonde observations and vertical profiles from the retrieval method without visible data. The intermmparisons reveal that the use of visible channel data yields significant improvements both in the reliability and the accuracy of satellite derived atmospheric profiles.
Abstract
Heavy rainfall from typhoons or tropical cyclones often causes inland flooding and mudslides that threaten lives and property. In this study, Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) satellite data observed from 2000 to 2004 were used to calculate the rainfall rates of different typhoons in the northwestern Pacific. Geostationary weather satellite infrared images were also applied to estimate the typhoon rotation speed via the maximum cross-correlation technique. By including such information in the tropical rainfall potential (TRaP) technique, an improved typhoon rainfall potential technique can be constructed.
Considering the fact that a typhoon’s spiral rainbands move constantly, half-hourly or hourly infrared data observed from geostationary weather satellites were used to calculate the revolving speed, which was subsequently used to predict the rainband movement over the next hour. After comparing the predicted rainfall potential with the rain gauge data of Taiwan’s small offshore islands, it was found that this new method can improve the typhoon’s accumulated rainfall by approximately 40% over the original TRaP method. Therefore, to produce a more accurate short-term typhoon rainfall forecast, it is very important to factor in the satellite-estimated storm rotation speed.
Abstract
Heavy rainfall from typhoons or tropical cyclones often causes inland flooding and mudslides that threaten lives and property. In this study, Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) satellite data observed from 2000 to 2004 were used to calculate the rainfall rates of different typhoons in the northwestern Pacific. Geostationary weather satellite infrared images were also applied to estimate the typhoon rotation speed via the maximum cross-correlation technique. By including such information in the tropical rainfall potential (TRaP) technique, an improved typhoon rainfall potential technique can be constructed.
Considering the fact that a typhoon’s spiral rainbands move constantly, half-hourly or hourly infrared data observed from geostationary weather satellites were used to calculate the revolving speed, which was subsequently used to predict the rainband movement over the next hour. After comparing the predicted rainfall potential with the rain gauge data of Taiwan’s small offshore islands, it was found that this new method can improve the typhoon’s accumulated rainfall by approximately 40% over the original TRaP method. Therefore, to produce a more accurate short-term typhoon rainfall forecast, it is very important to factor in the satellite-estimated storm rotation speed.
The midocean trough in the North Pacific may form a favorable environment for the genesis of some synoptic disturbances. In contrast, the North Pacific anticyclone may hinder the downward penetration of these disturbances into the lower troposphere and prevent the moisture supply to these disturbances from the lower troposphere. Because no thick clouds, rainfall, and destructive surface winds are associated with these disturbances to attract attention, they have not been analyzed or documented. Actually, the upper-level wind speed within these disturbances is sometimes as strong as tropical cyclones and has the possibility of causing air traffic hazards in the western subtropic Pacific. With infrared images of the Japanese Geostationary Meteorological Satellite and the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data, 25 North Pacific disturbances were identified over six summers (1993–98). Two aspects of these disturbances were explored: spatial structure and basic dynamics. For their structure, the disturbances possess a well-organized vortex in the middle to upper troposphere with a descending dry/cold core encircled by the moist ascending air around the vortex periphery; the secondary circulation of the vortex is opposite to other types of synoptic disturbances. Since vorticity reaches maximum values along the midocean trough line, barotrophic instability is suggested as a likely genesis mechanism of the vortex. After the vortex is formed, the horizontal advection of total vorticity results in its westward propagation, while the secondary circulation hinders this movement. Along its westward moving course, close to East Asia, there is a reduction in vortex size and a tangential speed increase inversely proportional to the vortex size. Diminishing its horizontal convergence/descending motion by the upper-tropospheric East Asian high and the lower-tropospheric monsoon low, the vortex eventually dissipates along the East Asian coast.
The midocean trough in the North Pacific may form a favorable environment for the genesis of some synoptic disturbances. In contrast, the North Pacific anticyclone may hinder the downward penetration of these disturbances into the lower troposphere and prevent the moisture supply to these disturbances from the lower troposphere. Because no thick clouds, rainfall, and destructive surface winds are associated with these disturbances to attract attention, they have not been analyzed or documented. Actually, the upper-level wind speed within these disturbances is sometimes as strong as tropical cyclones and has the possibility of causing air traffic hazards in the western subtropic Pacific. With infrared images of the Japanese Geostationary Meteorological Satellite and the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data, 25 North Pacific disturbances were identified over six summers (1993–98). Two aspects of these disturbances were explored: spatial structure and basic dynamics. For their structure, the disturbances possess a well-organized vortex in the middle to upper troposphere with a descending dry/cold core encircled by the moist ascending air around the vortex periphery; the secondary circulation of the vortex is opposite to other types of synoptic disturbances. Since vorticity reaches maximum values along the midocean trough line, barotrophic instability is suggested as a likely genesis mechanism of the vortex. After the vortex is formed, the horizontal advection of total vorticity results in its westward propagation, while the secondary circulation hinders this movement. Along its westward moving course, close to East Asia, there is a reduction in vortex size and a tangential speed increase inversely proportional to the vortex size. Diminishing its horizontal convergence/descending motion by the upper-tropospheric East Asian high and the lower-tropospheric monsoon low, the vortex eventually dissipates along the East Asian coast.
