Development of the typhoon initialization — combination of the bogused vortex and the dropwindsonde data in DOTSTAR

Issues on the initialization and simulation of tropical cyclones by integrating both the dropwindsonde data and the bogused vortex into a mesoscale model have been studied. A method is proposed to combine the dropwindsonde data with the bogused vortex for the tropical cyclone initialization and to improve the track and intensity prediction. Clear positive impact of this proposed method on both the tropical cyclone track and intensity forecasts in a mesoscale model is demonstrated in three cases of typhoons, Meari (2004), Conson (2004) and Megi (2004). The effectiveness of the proposed method in improving the track and intensity forecasts are also demonstrated in the evaluation of all 10 cases of DOTSTAR (Dropwindsonde Observations for Typhoon Surveillance near the Taiwan Region) missions in 2004. This method provides a useful and practical means to improve the operational tropical cyclones prediction with the dropwindsonde observations.