High values of Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential (TCHP), defined as the integrated heat content from the sea surface to the depth of the 26C isotherm, are believed to play a significant role in the sudden intensification of tropical cyclones. Near real time availability of this parameter, estimated using blended sea height anomaly (SHA) data from the altimeter constellation, sea surface temperature (SST) from infrared and microwave sensors, and historical climatologies, are expected to improve the tropical cyclone intensity forecasts.

We show here results presented in the web page http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/cyclone/data/, which distributes global fields of TCHP, SHA, SST and of the depth of the 20C and 26C isotherms. We describe the methodology we use to obtain and validate these fields. Daily and weekly estimates are routinely generated and placed online for publicly availability. The daily products use the SST from the TMI sensor, while the weekly maps are created using the NCEP Reynolds Optimall Interpolated SST fields. In addition to these global fields, we show in detail the seven major ocean basins where tropical cyclogenesis take place. We also present background information on recent episodes of rapid intensification and their link to the TCHP fields.