A bispectral satellite technique is being developed that shows promise in delineating vigorous, active convection from other upper-level cloud debris. Differencing of simultaneous observations in the infrared window (IRW) and water vapor (WV) channels from geostationary satellites reveals unique signatures in active convective regions which can not be explained by calibration fluctuations or cloud microphysics. The delineation of active convection in tropical cyclones is desirable since it is the diabatic processes associated with intense eyewall convection that appears to play the key role in intensity modulation.
This paper introduces the application of the method to studies of tropical cyclones. Examples applied to Hurricanes Linda (1997) and Opal (1995) and others will be presented in the poster. Use of this signature as a potential tool to indicate/predict intensity will also be discussed