Probing Relation between Aerosols and Tropical Cyclogenesis over the Eastern Tropical Atlantic Ocean Basin during the Recent Hurricane Seasons

Using NASA’s CALIPSO Satellite data, the goal of this study is to visualize and quantify measurements of aerosol concentration in the tropical cyclone (TC) main development region (MDR) within the recent hurricane seasons. Furthermore, analyzing the backscattering of diverse aerosol types will illustrate if aerosols with different absorption rates affect the atmospheric latent heat exchange during the tropical cyclogenesis period.

The scientific questions to be addressed in this study include: 1) Which type of aerosols has a greater impact on development prior and during TC genesis? 2) Does aerosol concentration play a role during TC genesis, if so, to what degree? 3) What is the transportation time of bio-mass burning aerosols compared to Saharan dust aerosols in association with TC genesis locations?

The working hypothesis is that highly concentrated aerosols will tend to absorb greater amounts of shortwave radiation in the atmosphere thus influencing the TC genesis by alter the vertical distribution of heat. The outcomes from this study can be used to improve numerical modeling intensity and forecasting of tropical cyclones.