The Tropical Cyclone Structure (TCS-08) near real-time and science studies satellite product suite

A wealth of satellite imagery and derived products were provided in near real-time during the Tropical Cyclone Structure (TCS-08) field program (summer 2008) to address multiple objectives: 1) provide mesoscale and synoptic scale weather nowcasting information used to coordinate multiple research aircraft, 2) address topics ranging from tropical cyclone genesis, storm structure, extratropical transition and satellite TC intensity validation, and 3) supplement major data voids due to limited in-situ observations. In response, a comprehensive suite of geostationary and polar orbiter digital data sets were acquired and processed, resulting in near real-time products distributed automatically to field program personnel and archived for numerous TCS-08 scientific studies.

The Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey, CA and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) in Madison, WI combined to create a suite of satellite products; 1) visible, infrared (IR), and water vapor imagery over synoptic, mesoscale and storm-specific domains, 2) geostationary-derived cloud and water vapor-tracked winds, 3) microwave enhanced imagery and products highlighting atmospheric moisture over large domains as well as storm-focused rainband and eyewall feature structure, 4) wind shear, convergence and divergence fields, 5) ocean surface winds from scatterometer and polarimetric radiometers, and 6) TC intensity estimates via microwave and IR algorithms. Products were made available to field program scientists via dedicated web pages, ftp and automated email alerts, including for the first time Google Earth dedicated products permitting enhanced geographical orientation, display and visualization. Digital data was also routinely available via a central catalog at the Earth Observation Laboratory (EOL) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) for both real-time utilization and archive purposes.

The satellite suite includes the MTSAT geostationary sensor, the operational and research constellation of microwave polar orbiters (SSM/I, SSMIS, AMSR-E, TMI, and WindSat), microwave sounders (AMSU-A/B, SSMIS, and MHS), scatterometers (QuikSCAT and ASCAT), as well as multiple radars (TRMM precipitation radar and CloudSat). Data latencies ranging from minutes to 1-4 hours enabled the TCS-08 personnel to gather a full range of environmental information in order to address the extensive near real-time and longer term research initiatives as funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).