Estimation and Statistical Characteristics of the Radius of Maximum Wind of Tropical Cyclones using COMS IR Imagery

The objective methods estimating the radius of maximum wind (RMW) of tropical cyclones (TCs) are discussed using infraed (IR) imagery of geostationary satellite, and an alternative method is suggested that can estimate RMW in the TCs having eyes using IR imagery. The RMW-estimating methods are based on the characteristic structure of the eyewall of a tropical cyclone. RMW is dependent upon the radius of the eye and the distance from the center to the top of the most developed convective cloud. In order to test these methods, blackbody brightness temperature of Korean geostationary satellite, COMS (Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite) IR imagery are utilized in this study. The estimated RMWs are compared with surface winds of ASCAT (Advanced Scatterometer) of a polar orbiting satellite.