ET frontal/surface wind evolution observed by QuikSCAT

As a tropical cyclone undergoes extratropical transition, its wind field expands and becomes more asymmetric. At the same time, the transitioning cyclone develops various frontal structures common to its extratropical cousins. QuikSCAT derived surface winds provide a high density, twice daily remote sensing tool to observe the evolution of various extratropical transition events in all ocean basins. Of particular interest are reintensifying ET events that mature into Shapiro-Keyser warm core seclusion extratropical cyclones after undergoing frontal fracture. In many cases, hurricane force winds occur in rain-free regions surrounding the bent-back warm front. High-resolution MM5 model results nicely compare with QuikSCAT observations of the surface winds and frontal structure.