Radar Observation of Tropical Cyclones

Abstract

Radar has contributed significantly to the operational monitoring as well as the study and understanding of tropical cyclones (TC’s), which are one of the most important meteorological phenomena. We describe the various features observable by radar in tropical cyclones and the methods of determining the centre of a TC from radar reflectivity and Doppler velocity patterns, in the first section of this chapter. Section 8.2 deals with the determination and possible prediction of the track of a TC. This is followed by section 8.3 dealing with determination of winds in TC’s. Section 8.4 discusses in detail the derivation of various characteristics of a TC from airborne and ground-based radars. These include the wind field, the eye structure and asymmetries observed in the TC. The relationship of eye characteristics to the intensity of the TC is also discussed. Section 8.5 deals with the distribution of rainfall. In section 8.6 we consider the inputs which radar can give for storm surge prediction.