On the changes in the distribution and strength of convection and the relationship with the rapid intensification of Super Typhoon Jangmi (2008)

Typhoon Jangmi, with a minimum pressure of 905 hPa, was the strongest storm of the 2008 Pacific typhoon season and was also the strongest storm worldwide during 2008. This study examines the characteristics of the convective structures associated with Typhoon Jangmi during its early rapid intensification. The asymmetric structures and intensity changes of the precipitation, and their relationships with environmental wind shear, variations of the temperature and moisture fields, surface heating fluxes and microphysics processes will be analyzed in great detail. This will be done using TRMM, Aqua satellite data products, airborne radar data and a high-resolution numerical simulation with the community Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The dynamic processes and physical mechanisms related to Typhoon Jangmi's rapid intensification will also be investigated.