4 Discoveries About Tropical Cyclones Provided by Microwave Remote Sensing
69
Rainfall Measuring Missions, 2007). A review paper by Stephens and Kummerow
(2007) discuss the benefits of measuring many aspects of the cloud and precipitation
simultaneously.
4.4 Conclusion
Microwave remote sensing of tropical cyclones has contributed tremendously to
insight about the structure and life-cycle of TCs and has allowed improved diagnostics and forecasting of these storms. In this review we highlighted the value of
microwaves in allowing us to look inside cloud and storm systems with radiometers
and rain radars, and to look through non-raining clouds for surface wind speed with
scatterometers, observing circulation in low pressure systems early in their development. Altimeters allow determination of the oceanic heat content for potential
development of cyclones. SAR sensors, which are not yet fully observing the globe,
nonetheless allow high resolution looks at wind fields and surface waves among
other features yet to be fully understood.
The three decades since the pioneering SEASAT satellite was launched and the
first Oceans from Space Conference in 1980 have provided a bonanza of new discoveries about tropical cyclones. This short review has only highlighted a few of
the many exciting developments, but the reader is encouraged to pursue the literature and contribute new research in this field, where every small advance can lead
to safer living in the path of tropical cyclones from improved understanding and
forecasting.
Acknowledgements This work was supported over many years by the authors’ institutions of
work and by NASA and NOAA in the USA and ESA in Europe. In particular, the writing of this
review occurred under support from the NSF ATM 0631685. Thanks go to the following individuals for their figures: W. Timothy Liu for Fig. 4.3, Gustavo Goni for Figs. 4.4, 4.5; P. Vachon for the
RADARSAT-SAR images (Figs. 4.6 and 4.7) and the use is courteously allowed by the copyright
holder, Canadian Space Agency. To S. Öhrvik many thanks for assistance with manuscript production. I acknowledge with much appreciation the teaching about hurricanes by my colleagues at the
Hurricane Research Division/AOML/NOAA and many others.
References
Alishouse JC, Snider JB, Westwater ER, Swift CT, Ruf CS, Snyder AS, Vongsathorn J, Ferraro RR
(1990a) Determination of cloud liquid water content using the SSM/I. IEEE Trans Geosci Rem
Sens 28:817–822
Alishouse JC, Snyder SA, Vongsathorn J, Ferraro RR (1990b) Determination of oceanic total
precipitable water from the SSM/I. IEEE Trans Geosci Rem Sens 28:811–816
Alpers W, Brümmer B (1994) Atmospheric boundary layer rolls observed by the synthetic aperture
radar aboard the ERS-1 satellite. J Geophys Res 99:12613–12621
Bentamy A, Katsaros KB, Mestas-Nuñez AM, Drennan WM, Forde EB, Roquet H (2003) Satellite
estimates of wind speed and latent heat flux over the global oceans. J Clim 16(4):636–656
Brown RA (1980) Longitudinal instabilities and secondary flows in the planetary boundary layer:
a review. Rev Geophys Space Phys 18:683–697
69
Rainfall Measuring Missions, 2007). A review paper by Stephens and Kummerow
(2007) discuss the benefits of measuring many aspects of the cloud and precipitation
simultaneously.
4.4 Conclusion
Microwave remote sensing of tropical cyclones has contributed tremendously to
insight about the structure and life-cycle of TCs and has allowed improved diagnostics and forecasting of these storms. In this review we highlighted the value of
microwaves in allowing us to look inside cloud and storm systems with radiometers
and rain radars, and to look through non-raining clouds for surface wind speed with
scatterometers, observing circulation in low pressure systems early in their development. Altimeters allow determination of the oceanic heat content for potential
development of cyclones. SAR sensors, which are not yet fully observing the globe,
nonetheless allow high resolution looks at wind fields and surface waves among
other features yet to be fully understood.
The three decades since the pioneering SEASAT satellite was launched and the
first Oceans from Space Conference in 1980 have provided a bonanza of new discoveries about tropical cyclones. This short review has only highlighted a few of
the many exciting developments, but the reader is encouraged to pursue the literature and contribute new research in this field, where every small advance can lead
to safer living in the path of tropical cyclones from improved understanding and
forecasting.
Acknowledgements This work was supported over many years by the authors’ institutions of
work and by NASA and NOAA in the USA and ESA in Europe. In particular, the writing of this
review occurred under support from the NSF ATM 0631685. Thanks go to the following individuals for their figures: W. Timothy Liu for Fig. 4.3, Gustavo Goni for Figs. 4.4, 4.5; P. Vachon for the
RADARSAT-SAR images (Figs. 4.6 and 4.7) and the use is courteously allowed by the copyright
holder, Canadian Space Agency. To S. Öhrvik many thanks for assistance with manuscript production. I acknowledge with much appreciation the teaching about hurricanes by my colleagues at the
Hurricane Research Division/AOML/NOAA and many others.
References
Alishouse JC, Snider JB, Westwater ER, Swift CT, Ruf CS, Snyder AS, Vongsathorn J, Ferraro RR
(1990a) Determination of cloud liquid water content using the SSM/I. IEEE Trans Geosci Rem
Sens 28:817–822
Alishouse JC, Snyder SA, Vongsathorn J, Ferraro RR (1990b) Determination of oceanic total
precipitable water from the SSM/I. IEEE Trans Geosci Rem Sens 28:811–816
Alpers W, Brümmer B (1994) Atmospheric boundary layer rolls observed by the synthetic aperture
radar aboard the ERS-1 satellite. J Geophys Res 99:12613–12621
Bentamy A, Katsaros KB, Mestas-Nuñez AM, Drennan WM, Forde EB, Roquet H (2003) Satellite
estimates of wind speed and latent heat flux over the global oceans. J Clim 16(4):636–656
Brown RA (1980) Longitudinal instabilities and secondary flows in the planetary boundary layer:
a review. Rev Geophys Space Phys 18:683–697