Study of geophysical parameters associated with the Orissa super cyclone using active and passive microwave remote sensing measurements

Abstract

A detailed study of the Orissa super cyclone over the Bay of Bengal from 25 to 29 October 1999 has been carried out using various spaceborne sensors, namely VHRR, SSM/I, TMI, MSMR, TOPEX‐RA and TMR. The raining areas are delineated using dual frequency TOPEX altimeter and coaligned three‐frequency TOPEX microwave radiometer (TMR) in addition to DMSP SSM/I, TRMM TMI and IRS‐P4 MSMR. Various oceanic parameters like rain rate (RR), cloud liquid water (CLW), integrated water vapour (IWV), ocean surface wind speed (OWS), and wave conditions on the ocean surface near and within the cyclonic vicinity were studied. This paper has two innovative aspects: (1) it indirectly validates the empirically developed MSMR algorithms for water vapour and wind speed under moderate cloud water conditions, and (2) it makes non‐conventional use of TOPEX altimeter and TMR, especially for rain rate and cloud liquid water over the cyclone. Results and significance of the synergistic measurements from various active and passive microwave and infrared observations from satellites have been discussed. The combined capabilities of these measurements portray the several important features associated with cyclones in a more informative way than any individual satellite component.