Title: Fusion of Hurricane Models and Observations: Addressing the Needs of Operations and Research
Presenting Author: Svetla M. Hristova-Veleva
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Co-Author(s):
P. P. Li, B. Knosp, N. Niamsuwan, F. J. Turk, T.-P. Shen, Q. Vu, B. Lambrigtsen, Z. Haddad, F. Marks, R. Rogers, S. Gopalakrishnan V. Tallapragada, S. Trahan, M. Boothe, M. Montgomery D. Jones, R. Ameller

Abstract:
What are the critical interactions between convection and the thermodynamics of the environment that sometimes lead to hurricane genesis and others don't? What processes control the rapid intensity changes of hurricanes? These are only a few of the questions that NASA's hurricane science research program is aiming to answer. Today's wealth of remote-sensing observations from satellites and suborbital platforms provides critical information that can help improve our understanding and the accuracy of the hurricane forecasts. However, these data are still underutilized in hurricane research and operations, due to their complexity and volume. To address this problem and reduce the barriers to timely delivery of satellite and model products, we have developed the JPL Tropical Cyclone Information System. This NASA/ESTO/AIST funded project aims to facilitate the inter-comparison of models and observations by bringing them into a common system and developing online tools for joint analysis and visualization. This framework presents a new prototype for integration of models and observations and provides the means to improve the understanding and forecasting of the hurricane processes. Our most recent work had two major goals: i) to upgrade the technology of the developed system in order to facilitate its adoption; ii) to actively introduce TCIS to the operational and research communities with the aim to promote its use and to lay the framework for its adoption. We will describe the more important recent technical advancements that include: selection and implementation of an alternative to Google Earth visualization; automation of the portal configuration and the collection of observations; development of web services to deliver data to the users for off-line analysis; collaboration with StormCenter to build the GeoCollaborate capability around TCIS to facilitate real-time interactions among researchers and stakeholders from multiple institutions; Participation in the ESIP independent evaluation of the TRL. A major focus of our past efforts has been to develop a set of online analysis tools to help understand the hurricane processes. During the 2015 hurricane season we used one of these tools to develop a framework for examining the relationship between the structure of the 2D precipitation and the near-surface wind fields. Using the TCIS, we related the evolution of these two fields, as determined from near-simultaneous satellite observations, to the hurricane intensity changes. Interestingly, we found potential predictive capabilities. These new results have sparked interest among research and operational scientists, pointing to the advantages of TCIS and promoting its use. The work described here was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.