CYGNSS Tropical Cyclone Wind Structure Science Data Products

A variety of parameters can be used to describe the wind structure of a tropical cyclone (TC). Of particular interest to the TC forecasting and research community are the maximum sustained wind speed (VMAX) and the radius of maximum wind (RMW). The RMW is the distance separating the storm center and the VMAX position. Both VMAX and RMW can be estimated from observations made by the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) constellation.

The CYGNSS constellation consists of eight small satellites in a 35-degree inclination circular orbit. These satellites will be deployed in late 2016 and operating in standard science mode by the 2017 Atlantic TC season. CYGNSS will provide estimates of ocean surface wind speed under all precipitating conditions with high temporal and spatial sampling in the tropics. TC VMAX and RMW can be derived from the level-2 CYGNSS wind speed product. CYGNSS-based VMAX and RMW science data products are developed and tested in this paper. Performance of these products is validated using a mission simulator pre-launch.