Precipitation Properties Observed during Tropical Cyclone Intensity Change

Abstract

Using a 15-yr (1998–2012) multiplatform dataset of passive microwave satellite data [tropical cyclone–passive microwave (TC-PMW)] for Atlantic and east Pacific storms, this study examines the relative importance of various precipitation properties, specifically convective intensity, symmetry, and area, to the spectrum of intensity changes observed in tropical cyclones. Analyses are presented not only spatially in shear-relative quadrants around the center, but also every 6 h during a 42-h period encompassing 18 h prior to onset of intensification to 24 h after. Compared to those with slower intensification rates, storms with higher intensification rates (including rapid intensification) have more symmetric distributions of precipitation prior to onset of intensification, as well as a greater overall areal coverage of precipitation. The rate of symmetrization prior to, and during, intensification increases with increasing intensity change as rapidly intensifying storms are more symmetric than slowly intensifying storms. While results also clearly show important contributions from strong convection, it is concluded that intensification is more closely related to the evolution of the areal, radial, and symmetric distribution of precipitation that is not necessarily intense.

Climatology of overshootings in tropical cyclones and their roles in tropical cyclone intensity changes using TRMM data

“…This is consistent with Alvey III et al (2015). They examined the precipitation properties of TCs as a function of the intensity changes based on 15 years of passive microwave satellite data, and indicated that the rate of symmetrization in precipitation distribution increased with increasing rate of intensity change.…”

Monthly variation and spatial distribution of quadrant tropical cyclone size in the Western North Pacific

“…In fact, Alvey et al (2015) and Klotz and Jiang (2017) presented a new method for calculating full storm symmetry. In this study, we define "symmetry index" as the ratio of minimum to maximum quadrant size.…”

Rapid Intensification of Tropical Cyclones Observed by AMSU Satellites

“…Alvey et al (2015) showed that RI events have more symmetric distributions of precipitation prior to onset of intensification, as well as a greater overall areal coverage of precipitation. We used AMSU measurements from six satellites: AQUA, MetOp, NOAA-15, NOAA-16, NOAA-17, and NOAA-18.…”