High-Resolution Hurricane Boundary Layer Structure From Sentinel-1A,B Satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar and Aircraft Observations
Abstract
Funds are provided to investigate how satellite data can improve TC intensity forecasts. Poor representation of tropical cyclone boundary layer (TCBL) processes in numerical models has been recognized as a fundamental deficiency in operational NWP models. The PI will focus on improving parameterizations of TCBL turbulence, air-sea fluxes and inward convergence of humidity and angular momentum that are necessary for a numerical model to strengthen a TC in a physically-correct manner. The proposed research will be performed in collaboration with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) experts at IFREMER in Brest, FR who will acquire ultra-high resolution (25 m) radar images of TCs worldwide from the Sentinel-1 satellites. SAR provides accurate fields of surface wind convergence and vorticity, and sea-level pressure patterns from which estimates of the top-of-TCBL gradient wind will be derived. The PIs will also derive vertical wind and eddy viscosity profiles from the SAR data. The results will be validated against field observations and used to evaluate models of TC intensification and their TCBL parameterizations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 17, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012148
Entities
People
- Ralph Foster
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Washington