Satellite classification operations at the Tropical Prediction Center during the 2007 Hurricane Season with Comparison to Recent Trends

The Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) of the Tropical Prediction Center has performed tropical satellite classification functions since the early 1970s. The program became more formalized with the development of the Dvorak Technique in 1978 and grew to encompass the evaluation of the CIMSS Automated Objective Dvorak Technique (AODT) in 2001 and the use of microwave satellite imagery from polar orbiting satellites to provide additional center fixes in 2004. The inclusion of fixes from microwave imagery has significantly increased the number of satellite position estimates provided by the TAFB in recent years. A review of operations during the 2007 hurricane season is provided with a comparison to prior hurricane seasons. Statistics of tropical cyclone fixes by month and a 5-day running average for the 2003-2007 seasons reveal notable differences in the overall tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins.