Evaluating Outer Tropical Cyclone Size in Reanalysis Datasets using QuikSCAT Data

Evaluating Outer Tropical Cyclone Size in Reanalysis Datasets using QuikSCAT Data AbstractThe present study examines the fidelity of outer tropical cyclone (TC) size and wind field structure in four atmospheric reanalysis datasets to evaluate whether reanalyses can be used to derive a long-term TC size data set. Specifically, the precision and accuracy of reanalysis TC size for the North Atlantic (NA) and western North Pacific (WNP) basins are analyzed through comparison with a recently developed QuikSCAT TC size dataset (2000–2009). Both outer TC size and structure in reanalyses closely match QuikSCAT data as revealed by strong correlations, similar standard deviations, and generally small biases. Of the TC size metrics examined, the radii of 6–8 m s−1 winds in the NA and radii of 6–10 m s−1 winds in the WNP are generally most comparable to QuikSCAT data. Compared to WNP TCs, NA TC size and structure are represented with greater fidelity. Among the four reanalyses examined, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis and the Japanese Meteorological Agency Japanese 55-yr Re-Analysis represent TC size and structure with the greatest fidelity for both basins. Differences between reanalyses and QuikSCAT TC size increase with increasing QuikSCAT TC size in both basins and with decreasing TC latitude in the WNP. Finally, comparison of the distribution of reanalysis TC size during the satellite era with the distribution of QuikSCAT TC size suggests that reanalysis TC size is represented with reasonable fidelity throughout the satellite era and, thus, may be useful for constructing a multidecadal TC size dataset. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Climate American Meteorological Society

Evaluating Outer Tropical Cyclone Size in Reanalysis Datasets using QuikSCAT Data

55 pages
Read Article

Loading next page...
 
/lp/ams/evaluating-outer-tropical-cyclone-size-in-reanalysis-datasets-using-50s5VpEFUQ
Publisher
American Meteorological Society
Copyright
Copyright © American Meteorological Society
ISSN
1520-0442
D.O.I.
10.1175/JCLI-D-17-0122.1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AbstractThe present study examines the fidelity of outer tropical cyclone (TC) size and wind field structure in four atmospheric reanalysis datasets to evaluate whether reanalyses can be used to derive a long-term TC size data set. Specifically, the precision and accuracy of reanalysis TC size for the North Atlantic (NA) and western North Pacific (WNP) basins are analyzed through comparison with a recently developed QuikSCAT TC size dataset (2000–2009). Both outer TC size and structure in reanalyses closely match QuikSCAT data as revealed by strong correlations, similar standard deviations, and generally small biases. Of the TC size metrics examined, the radii of 6–8 m s−1 winds in the NA and radii of 6–10 m s−1 winds in the WNP are generally most comparable to QuikSCAT data. Compared to WNP TCs, NA TC size and structure are represented with greater fidelity. Among the four reanalyses examined, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis and the Japanese Meteorological Agency Japanese 55-yr Re-Analysis represent TC size and structure with the greatest fidelity for both basins. Differences between reanalyses and QuikSCAT TC size increase with increasing QuikSCAT TC size in both basins and with decreasing TC latitude in the WNP. Finally, comparison of the distribution of reanalysis TC size during the satellite era with the distribution of QuikSCAT TC size suggests that reanalysis TC size is represented with reasonable fidelity throughout the satellite era and, thus, may be useful for constructing a multidecadal TC size dataset.

Journal

Journal of Climate – American Meteorological Society

Published: Jul 31, 2017

References

  • Very large and very small typhoons of the western North Pacific Ocean
    Brand, S.
  • An observational study of extratropical storms evolved from tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific
    Brand, S.; Guard, C. P.
  • The influence of tropical cyclone size on its intensification
    Carrasco, C. A.; Landsea, C. W.; Lin, Y.-L.
  • Size and strength of tropical cyclones as inferred from QuikSCAT data
    Chan, K. T.; Chan, J. C.
  • Angular momentum transports and synoptic flow patterns associated with tropical cyclone size change
    Chan, K. T.; Chan, J. C.
  • Impacts of initial vortex size and planetary vorticity on tropical cyclone size
    Chan, K. T.; Chan, J. C.
  • Global climatology of tropical cyclone size as inferred from QuikSCAT data
    Chan, K. T.; Chan, J. C.
  • Impacts of vortex intensity and outer winds on tropical cyclone size
    Chan, K. T.; Chan, J. C.
  • A QuikSCAT climatology of tropical cyclone size
    Chavas, D.; Emanuel, K.
  • Equilibrium tropical cyclone size in an idealized state of axisymmetric radiative–convective equilibrium
    Chavas, D.; Emanuel, K.
  • A model for the complete radial structure of the tropical cyclone wind field. Part II: Wind field variability
    Chavas, D.; Lin, N.
  • A model for the complete radial structure of the tropical cyclone wind field. Part I: Comparison with observed structure
    Chavas, D.; Lin, N.; Emanuel, K.
  • Observed tropical cyclone size revisited
    Chavas, D.; Lin, N.; Dong, W.; Lin, Y.
  • The ERA-Interim reanalysis: Configuration and performance of the data assimilation system
    Dee, D.
  • Improvement of Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit tropical cyclone intensity and size estimation algorithms
    Demuth, J.; DeMaria, M.; Knaff, J.
  • Increasing destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the past 30 years
    Emanuel, K.
  • Analysis of the wind field evolution associated with the extratropical transition of Bonnie (1998)
    Evans, C.; Hart, R.
  • Objective indicators of the life cycle evolution of extratropical transition for Atlantic tropical cyclones
    Evans, J.; Hart, R.
  • Radius and frequency of 15 m s−1 (30 kt) winds around tropical cyclones
    Frank, W.; Gray, W.
  • The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2)
    Gelaro, R.
  • Synoptic composites of the extratropical transition life cycle of North Atlantic tropical cyclones: Factors determining posttransition evolution
    Hart, R. E.; Evans, J. L.; Evans, C.
  • Impact of wind profile retrievals on the analysis of tropical cyclones in the JRA-25 reanalysis
    Hatsushika, H.; Tsutsui, J.; Fiorino, M.; Onogi, K.
  • How well are tropical cyclones represented in reanalysis datasets?
    Hodges, K.; Cobb, A.; Vidale, P. L.
  • Matplotlib: A 2D graphics environment
    Hunter, J. D.
  • Sensitivity analysis for computer model projections of hurricane losses
    Iman, R. L.; Johnson, M. E.; Watson, C. C.
  • A hydrodynamics-based surge scale for hurricanes
    Irish, J. L.; Resio, D. T.
  • The influence of storm size on hurricane surge
    Irish, J. L.; Resio, D. T.; Ratcliff, J. J.
  • A 15-year climatology of North Atlantic tropical cyclones. Part I: Size parameters
    Kimball, S.; Mulekar, M.
  • Climatology of extratropical transition of tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific defined by using cyclone phase space
    Kitabatake, N.
  • Reexamination of tropical cyclone wind–pressure relationships
    Knaff, J.; Zehr, R.
  • An objective satellite-based tropical cyclone size climatology
    Knaff, J.; Longmore, S. P.; Molenar, D. A.
  • The international best track archive for climate stewardship (IBTrACS) unifying tropical cyclone data
    Knapp, K. R.; Kruk, M. C.; Levinson, D. H.; Diamond, H. J.; Neumann, C. J.
  • The JRA-55 reanalysis: General specifications and basic characteristics
    Kobayashi, S.
  • A globally consistent reanalysis of hurricane variability and trends
    Kossin, J.; Knapp, K.; Vimont, D.; Murnane, R.; Harper, B.
  • Estimating hurricane wind structure in the absence of aircraft reconnaissance
    Kossin, J.
  • Atlantic hurricane database uncertainty and presentation of a new database format
    Landsea, C.; Franklin, J. L.
  • Can we detect trends in extreme tropical cyclones?
    Landsea, C.; Harper, B.; Hoarau, K.; Knaff, J.
  • Initial maintenance of tropical cyclone size in the western North Pacific
    Lee, C.-S.; Cheung, K. K.; Fang, W.-T.; Elsberry, R. L.
  • On hurricane parametric wind and applications in storm surge modeling
    Lin, N.; Chavas, D.
  • Grey swan tropical cyclones
    Lin, N.; Emanuel, K.
  • Heightened hurricane surge risk in northwest Florida revealed from climatological-hydrodynamic modeling and paleorecord reconstruction
    Lin, N.; Lane, P.; Emanuel, K. A.; Sullivan, R. M.; Donnelly, J. P.
  • Size of tropical cyclones as inferred from ERS-1 and ERS-2 data
    Liu, K.; Chan, J. C.
  • Evolution of North Atlantic ERA40 tropical cyclone representation
    Manning, D.; Hart, R.
  • A comparison of large and small tropical cyclones
    Merrill, R.
  • Tropical cyclones in reanalysis data sets
    Murakami, H.
  • Evaluation of tropical cyclone center identification methods in numerical models
    Nguyen, L. T.; Molinari, J.; Thomas, D.
  • The JRA-25 reanalysis
    Onogi, K.
  • Reanalyses and observations: What’s the difference?
    Parker, W. S.
  • Impact of physical parameterizations on idealized tropical cyclones in the Community Atmosphere Model
    Reed, K.; Jablonowski, C.
  • Idealized tropical cyclone simulations of intermediate complexity: A test case for AGCMs
    Reed, K.; Jablonowski, C.
  • Tropical cyclones in the spectral element configuration of the Community Atmosphere Model
    Reed, K.; Jablonowski, C.; Taylor, M. A.
  • An investigation of center-finding techniques for tropical cyclones in mesoscale models
    Ryglicki, D. R.; Hart, R. E.
  • A deeper analysis of center-finding techniques for tropical cyclones in mesoscale models. Part I: Low-wavenumber analysis
    Ryglicki, D. R.; Hodyss, D.
  • The NCEP Climate Forecast System Reanalysis
    Saha, S.
  • An examination of tropical cyclone position, intensity, and intensity life cycle within atmospheric reanalysis datasets
    Schenkel, B.; Hart, R.
  • An analysis of the environmental moisture impacts of western North Pacific tropical cyclones
    Schenkel, B.; Hart, R.
  • An examination of the thermodynamic impacts of western North Pacific tropical cyclones on their tropical tropospheric environment
    Schenkel, B.; Hart, R.
  • Evaluating mesoscale NWP models using kinetic energy spectra
    Skamarock, W. C.
  • Low frequency variability in globally integrated tropical cyclone power dissipation
    Sriver, R.; Huber, M.
  • Optimized tropical cyclone winds from QuikSCAT: A neural network approach
    Stiles, B.
  • Reanalyses suitable for characterizing long-term trends: Are they really achievable?
    Thorne, P.; Vose, R.
  • Quantifying the possible existence of undocumented Atlantic warm-core cyclones in NOAA/CIRES 20th Century Reanalysis data
    Truchelut, R.; Hart, R.
  • Global identification of previously undetected pre-satellite-era tropical cyclone candidates in NOAA/CIRES Twentieth-Century Reanalysis data
    Truchelut, R.; Hart, R.; Luthman, B.
  • On estimates of historical North Atlantic tropical cyclone activity
    Vecchi, G.; Knutson, T.
  • Typhoon structure as revealed by aircraft reconnaissance. Part I: Data analysis and climatology
    Weatherford, C.; Gray, W.
  • Typhoon structure as revealed by aircraft reconnaissance. Part II: Structural variability
    Weatherford, C.; Gray, W.
  • A 40-year climatology of extratropical transition in the eastern North Pacific
    Wood, K. M.; Ritchie, E. A.
  • Dependence of US hurricane economic loss on maximum wind speed and storm size
    Zhai, A. R.; Jiang, J. H.

You’re reading a free preview. Subscribe to read the entire article.

Try 2 weeks free now

DeepDyve is your
personal research library

It’s your single place to instantly
discover and read the research
that matters to you.

Enjoy affordable access to
over 12 million articles from more than
10,000 peer-reviewed journals.

All for just $49/month

Explore the DeepDyve Library

or browse the journals available

Unlimited reading

Read as many articles as you need. Full articles with original layout, charts and figures. Read online, from anywhere.

Stay up to date

Keep up with your field with Personalized Recommendations and Follow Journals to get automatic updates.

Organize your research

It’s easy to organize your research with our built-in tools.

Your journals are on DeepDyve

Read from thousands of the leading scholarly journals from SpringerNature, Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford University Press and more.

All the latest content is available, no embargo periods.

See the journals in your area

Monthly Plan

  • Read unlimited articles
  • Personalized recommendations
  • No expiration
  • Print 20 pages per month
  • 20% off on PDF purchases
  • Organize your research
  • Get updates on your journals and topic searches

$49/month

Start Free Trial

14-day Free Trial

Best Deal — 39% off

Annual Plan

  • All the features of the Professional Plan, but for 39% off!
  • Billed annually
  • No expiration
  • For the normal price of 10 articles elsewhere, you get one full year of unlimited access to articles.

$588

$360/year

billed annually
Start Free Trial

14-day Free Trial

Interested in DeepDyve for your group?
Try 2 weeks free now