The accurate detection and analysis of tropical waves and tropical cyclones pose a challenge to operational forecasters. It is therefore necessary to develop analysis tools that aid in locating and describing these features. Recent collaborative efforts between NOAA's Hurricane Research Division (HRD) and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (UW-CIMSS) have resulted in the development of several new satellite-derived products designed for tropical cyclone applications. These products utilize geostationary satellite winds produced at UW-CIMSS and are made available in real-time.

Low-level (600-925 hPa) cloud-drift winds are generated in the tropical cyclone environment using the visible and 3.9µm shortwave infrared (SWIR) channels on the GOES-8 and 10 satellites. These wind data are surface adjusted using a planetary boundary layer program developed at HRD and are made available to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center during real-time storm events.

Utilizing the satellite cloud-drift wind data, color-enhanced analyses of 850 hPa relative vorticity are also produced in real-time for multiple ocean basins. This product has applications for tropical wave tracking, as well as for examining interactions between environmental features such as tropical cyclones, tropical waves, and mid-latitude fronts.

Additional products that utilize the GOES satellites are currently under development. These include products for tracking the position of the Saharan Air Layer as well as for identifying the deep layer mean environmental steering flow for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin.