Advances in objective TC center fixing using multispectral satellite imagery

Precise center-fixing of tropical cyclones (TCs) is critical for operational forecasting, intensity estimation and visualization. While manual approaches often lead to variance in the estimated center positions, our existing algorithm, the Automated Rotational Center Hurricane Eye Retrieval (ARCHER), provides an objective center-fix estimate for individual hurricane images. This presentation discusses recent, major enhancements to the ARCHER algorithm including 1) Adaptations to optimize the algorithm separately on microwave, infrared and visible imagery; 2) Inclusion of uncertainty estimates (spatial and scalar) to allow the end user to customize the results to their own operational requirements; and 3) Combination of a multispectral image history into a more robust track-oriented center fix. This third feature allows separate forms of imagery to apply their main strengths toward a single estimate, so that the accuracy of microwave imagery can be extended in time with the higher observation frequency of visible and infrared imagery.