An Analysis of the Thermal and Circulation Features of Eastern North Pacific Cyclones Using Aircraft Reconnaissance Data.

• Main Author: Upton,Thomas George
• Other Authors: NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CALIF
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1973
• Subjects: Meteorology; (*Tropical cyclones; *Pacific Ocean); Typhoons; Hurricanes; Wind; Isotherms; Aerial reconnaissance; Troposphere; Marine meteorology; Data processing; Correlation techniques; Theses; North Pacific Ocean; Pacific; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0769430; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0769430

Over 225 aircraft reconnaissance missions (1966-1972) into eastern North Pacific tropical (EASTROPAC) cyclones (tropical storms and hurricanes only) are computer processed and analyzed to present a composite view of the near-center cyclone structure. Radially-averaged profiles of D-values, isotherms, and isotachs are related to similar information from North Atlantic and western North Pacific tropical cyclones. The analyses qualitatively indicate that EASTROPAC cyclones are small in horizontal extent while relatively intense for their size, the latter feature comparing favorably to the average North Atlantic tropical cyclone. Maximum warming occurs within the radius of maximum wind (which averages 24 n mi) at lower levels with cyclone-induced warming evident to a radius of 90 n mi at upper levels. Other features are shown and suggestions for future research are discussed. (Modified author abstract)