Visualizing Tropical Cyclone Development with TROPICS Data in ArcGIS

The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) Mission comprises the Pathfinder instrument and 4 identical space vehicles (SV) hosting a passive microwave spectrometer payload measuring temperature, humidity, cloud ice and precipitation of tropical cyclones (TC) at high temporal and spatial resolution. The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) is one of 12 NASA Earth Observing System data centers that document, process, archive, and distribute data from Earth science missions including TROPICS. The GES DISC has employed ArcPy, a python library for ArcGIS, to transform TROPICS Level 1B brightness temperature data into feature point layers and gridded raster datasets using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation method. This processed data has been shared via an ArcGIS web map, allowing users to interactively explore the data and gain insights directly within a web browser or GIS application. The click-and-point feature within the web interface allows users to identify the brightness temperature value ascribed to each pixel value within the swath. The simplicity of this design enables users of a variety of skill levels to navigate through the TROPICS imagery with ease. Though this tool is evolving, it will capture notable TC activity at each stage of development from tropical disturbance to post-tropical cyclone. We utilize this ArcGIS tool and present a case study analyzing Hurricane Fiona’s storm development and tracking during the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane season.