Abstract
Abstract. Accurate prediction of life cycle of cyclone is very critical to the disaster management practices. Since the cyclones originate over the oceans where in situ observations are limited, we have to resort to the remote sensing techniques. Both optical and microwave sensors help studying the cyclones. While scatterometer provide wind vectors, altimeters can give only wind speed. In this paper we present how altimeter measurements can supplement the scatterometer observations in determining the radius of maximum winds (RMW). Sustained maximum winds, indicator for the intensity of the cyclone, are within the eye wall of a cyclone at a distance of RMW. This parameter is also useful in predicting right time of the storm surge. In this paper we used the wind speed estimations from AltiKa, an altimeter operating at Ka band.
Highlights
A cyclone is a low pressure area in the atmosphere in which winds spiral upward
In this study we demonstrate the application of an AltiKa onboard SARAL (Satellite for ARgos and ALtiKa) mission, a joint venture of ISRO/CNES, in supplementing the Oceansat-2 Scatterometer (OSCAT) wind vectors
In spite of spatial and temporal limitations of an altimeter compared to a scatterometer, AltiKa derived winds could distinguish the eye of the cyclone and the eye wall or radius of maximum winds (RMW), which is an important feature of tropical cyclones
Summary
A cyclone is a low pressure area in the atmosphere in which winds spiral upward. Cyclones are one of the most violent weather manifestations that cause devastation along the coastal regions. The radius of maximum wind (RMW) is a parameter in atmospheric dynamics and tropical cyclone forecasting (Hsu and Babin, 2005). It is the distance between the centre of a cyclone with a band of strongest winds, near the eye wall. The RMW is traditionally measured by reconnaissance aircraft in the Atlantic basin (Hsu and Babin, 2005) It can be determined on weather maps as the distance between the cyclone centre and the system's greatest pressure gradient (Blanchard and Hsu, 2006). Scatterometer, a satellite radar instrument, observes surface backscatter radiance and thereby provides a measure of vector wind at 10m (at the height of the ship deck).
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