A Long-Term, High-quality, High Vertical Resolution GPS Dropsonde Dataset for Hurricanes and Other Studies

Since 1996, GPS dropsondes have been routinely dropped during hurricane reconnaissance and surveillance flights to help predict hurricane tracks and intensity. From 1996 to 2012, NOAA has dropped 13,681 dropsondes inside hurricane eye walls and in the surrounding environment for 125 tropical cyclones (TCs) or hurricanes. All dropsonde data have been collected, reformatted to one format, and consistently and carefully quality-controlled using state-of-art QC tools. Some value-added products, such as the vertical air velocity and the radius and azimuth angle of each dropsonde location, are generated and added to the dataset. As a result, a long-term (1996-2012), high-quality, high-vertical resolution GPS dropsonde dataset was created and will be made readily available for public access. The dropsonde data collected during hurricane reconnaissance and surveillance flights have improved TC track and intensity forecasts. The milestones of dropsonde data's impact on hurricane studies will be summarized. The scientific applications of the long-term dropsonde dataset from this study will be highlighted, including characterizing TC structures, studying TC environmental interactions, and validating radar and satellite products.