Research Summaries

Back Improved Automation and Performance of VORTRAC Intensity Guidance

Fiscal Year 2011
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Meteorology
Investigator(s) Bell, Michael M.
Sponsor National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (Other-Fed)
Summary The United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) and the NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane Center (TPC/NHC) have stated needs for improved guidance on tropical cyclone (TC) intensity changes (USWRP-A and TPC-1 in the JHT Announcement of Opportunity) and techniques to improve the utility of radar data for TC analysis (TPC-12). The network of Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) units in the United States and abroad provide Doppler velocity information every 6 minutes out to ~200 km from the radar. Therefore, the warning lead-time for intensity changes derived from WSR-88D data varies from several hours to several days prior to final landfall, depending on the track of the TC. TPC can now receive full-volume, full-resolution, WSR-88D Level II data as well as high-resolution, quality-controlled Level III data in real-time for use with single-Doppler radar analysis algorithms. This new capability has presented the opportunity to provide the NHC hurricane specialist with radar-derived diagnoses of TC intensity changes near landfall for use in their advisory forecast cycle. A radar-based hurricane diagnostic software package, the Vortex Objective Radar Tracking and Circulation (VORTRAC) program was implemented operationally in 2007 to address these needs.
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Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal