1 / 15

VORTRAC: Utility for Landfalling Tropical Cyclones

VORTRAC is a nowcasting system that deduces central pressure and radius of maximum wind of landfalling tropical cyclones. It uses WSR-88D data and provides a basic framework for integrating TC algorithms. The system has undergone real-time testing and GUI improvements based on feedback from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

munsey
Download Presentation

VORTRAC: Utility for Landfalling Tropical Cyclones

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. VORTRAC – A Utility to Deduce Central Pressure and Radius of Maximum Wind of Landfalling Tropical Cyclones Using WSR-88D DataWen-Chau Lee NCAR/EOL Paul Harasti UCAR/NRL Michael Bell NCAR/EOLColin McAdie TPC Contact

  2. Progress Report • A preliminary version of VORTRAC was installed at NHC July 2006 • Real time test run using LDM radar feed during Ernesto (2006) • Graphical User Interface (GUI) improvements after receiving feedback from NHC • Implementation of the objective center finding algorithm

  3. Basic Assumptions • A single circulation center and the center can be identified accurately • Gradient wind balance • At least half of the eyewall is within Doppler range • Anchor pressure (at least one surface obs., otherwise assume 1013 hPa) • Radar data is perfect after automatic QC • Mean wind and wavenumber two structure are known

  4. GUI Improvements Status Log and ProgressBar Storm Status Program Status

  5. Initial storm position and motion can be preset before TC enter radar range

  6. Countdown

  7. Hurricane Katrina (2005)

  8. Summary • VORTRAC is the first TC nowcasting system provides a basic framework to integrate TC algorithms for operation and research use • GUI improvements allow for semi-automated operations with minimum human interactions after an initial trend is established • The retrieved pressure field can be biased by the uncertainty in the mean wind and wavenumber two structure of the storm • Extreme events should be detected based on time averaged quantities, not by short term variations • VORTRAC will be running and tested at NHC during 2007 TC season • Documentation of VORTRAC will be completed and delivered in 2007 • Optimal radar sampling strategy of landfalling TCs is critical

  9. Charlie X: 0.56 km Y: 0.70 km RMW: 0.82 km VT: 1.9 m/s Katrina X: 0.86 km Y: 2.58 km RMW: 4.38 km VT: 9.00 m/s Confidence Level

  10. Statistical Method to Objectively Determine the Best Vortex Centers in VORTRAC

More Related