Satellite microwave detected SST anomalies and hurricane intensification |
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Authors: | Donglian Sun Menas Kafatos Guido Cervone Zafer Boybeyi Ruixin Yang |
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Institution: | (1) Center for Earth Observing and Space Research, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA |
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Abstract: | Sea surface temperature (SST) from the remotely sensed infrared measurements, like the GOES, AVHRR, and MODIS, etc., show
missing values of SST over the cloudy regions associated with hurricanes. While satellite microwave measurements, like the
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) microwave imager (TMI), can provide SST even under cloudy conditions. Both satellite
microwave measurements and buoy observations show SST increase in advance of significant hurricane intensification. Moreover,
hurricane intensification may also be related to the location of high SST. Our results indicate pre-existing high SST anomaly
(SSTA) located at the right side of the storm track for Hurricane Katrina. Numerical simulations also confirm the important
impacts of SSTA location on hurricane intensification. Similar situations are also found for Hurricanes Rita and Wilma. In
contrast, if there is no high SSTA at the right location, hurricane may not undergo further intensification. This may explain
why not all tropical cyclones associated with warm waters can attain peak intensity (categories 4 and 5) during their life
cycle, and partially explains why hurricanes do not reach the maximum potential intensity as calculated only according to
the magnitude of SST. |
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Keywords: | GOES TMI IR Microwave SST SST anomaly (SSTA) Hurricanes Katrina Rita and Wilma Impacts of time and location of SSTA on hurricane intensification |
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