Evaluation of Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit Tropical-Cyclone Intensity and Size Estimation Algorithms

Abstract
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) data are used to provide objective estimates of 1-min maximum sustained surface winds, minimum sea level pressure, and the radii of 34-, 50-, and 64-kt (1 kt ≡ 0.5144 m s−1) winds in the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest quadrants of tropical cyclones. The algorithms are derived from AMSU temperature, pressure, and wind retrievals from all tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and east Pacific basins during 1999–2001. National Hurricane Center best-track intensity and operational radii estimates are used as dependent variables in a multiple-regression approach. The intensity algorithms are evaluated for the developmental sample using a jackknife procedure and independent cases from the 2002 hurricane season. Jackknife results for the maximum winds and minimum sea level pressure estimates are mean absolute errors (MAE) of 11.0 kt and 6.7 hPa, respectively, and rmse of 14.1 kt and 9.3 hPa, respectively. For cases with corresponding reconnaissance dat... Abstract Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) data are used to provide objective estimates of 1-min maximum sustained surface winds, minimum sea level pressure, and the radii of 34-, 50-, and 64-kt (1 kt ≡ 0.5144 m s−1) winds in the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest quadrants of tropical cyclones. The algorithms are derived from AMSU temperature, pressure, and wind retrievals from all tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and east Pacific basins during 1999–2001. National Hurricane Center best-track intensity and operational radii estimates are used as dependent variables in a multiple-regression approach. The intensity algorithms are evaluated for the developmental sample using a jackknife procedure and independent cases from the 2002 hurricane season. Jackknife results for the maximum winds and minimum sea level pressure estimates are mean absolute errors (MAE) of 11.0 kt and 6.7 hPa, respectively, and rmse of 14.1 kt and 9.3 hPa, respectively. For cases with corresponding reconnaissance dat...