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Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Atmospheric Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 16625

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, Rome, Italy
Interests: numerical weather prediction; data assimilation; precipitation; satellite products
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Guest Editor
CIMA Research Foundation, Via A. Magliotto 2, 17100 Savona, Italy
Interests: numerical weather prediction; data assimilation; lightning forecast; precipitation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIMA Research Foundation, Via A. Magliotto 2, 17100 Savona, Italy
Interests: numerical weather prediction; data assimilation; lightning forecast; precipitation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Extreme weather events involve a large variety of atmospheric phenomena: extreme rainfalls, floods, extreme wind gusts, cold outbreaks, heat waves, droughts, lightning, large hail, tornadoes etc. An increasing number of extreme weather events are occurring over the globe in the last few decades, and their number is expected to increase in the future climate.

For these reasons, it is important to observe, study, and improve predictions of extreme weather events, and this Special Issue aims to collect contributions in these directions.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect contributions on different aspects of extreme weather events. We encourage several types of studies on the topic: observational studies, statistical and climatological analyses, and predictions of extreme weather events at different spatial and temporal scales. Analyses of risk, vulnerability and impact are also of interest for the Special Issue.

This Special Issue collects studies on past, present and future extreme weather events. Contributions can consider, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Observational studies of extreme weather events;
  • Studies on physical processes determining extreme weather events;
  • Modelling studies of extreme weather events;
  • Statistical and climatological analysis of extreme weather events;
  • Extreme weather events in a changing climate;
  • Risk, vulnerability and impacts: assessment, mitigation and impact studies.

Dr. Stefano Federico
Dr. Rosa Claudia Torcasio
Dr. Martina Lagasio
Dr. Vincenzo Mazzarella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • statistics and climatology of extreme weather events
  • observations of extreme weather events
  • predictions of severe extreme weather events at different spatial and temporal scales
  • extreme weather events in a changing climate
  • risk, vulnerability and impacts: assessment, mitigation and impact studies

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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18 pages, 6360 KiB  
Article
Interannual Variability and Trends in Extreme Precipitation in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica
by Lejiang Yu, Shiyuan Zhong, Svetlana Jagovkina, Cuijuan Sui and Bo Sun
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(2), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17020324 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 280
Abstract
This study examines the trends and interannual variability of extreme precipitation in Antarctica, using six decades (1963–2023) of daily precipitation data from Russia’s Novolazarevskaya Station in East Antarctica. The results reveal declining trends in both the annual number of extreme precipitation days and [...] Read more.
This study examines the trends and interannual variability of extreme precipitation in Antarctica, using six decades (1963–2023) of daily precipitation data from Russia’s Novolazarevskaya Station in East Antarctica. The results reveal declining trends in both the annual number of extreme precipitation days and the total amount of extreme precipitation, as well as a decreasing ratio of extreme to total annual precipitation. These trends are linked to changes in northward water vapor flux and enhanced downward atmospheric motion. The synoptic pattern driving extreme precipitation events is characterized by a dipole of negative and positive height anomalies to the west and east of the station, respectively, which directs southward water vapor flux into the region. Interannual variability in extreme precipitation days shows a significant correlation with the Niño 3.4 index during the austral winter semester (May–October). This relationship, weak before 1992, strengthened significantly afterward due to shifting wave patterns induced by tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies. These findings shed light on how large-scale atmospheric circulation and tropical-extratropical teleconnections shape Antarctic precipitation patterns, with potential implications for ice sheet stability and regional climate variability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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20 pages, 13964 KiB  
Article
Coupled Effects of High Temperatures and Droughts on Forest Fires in Northeast China
by Bing Ma, Xingpeng Liu, Zhijun Tong, Jiquan Zhang and Xiao Wang
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(20), 3784; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16203784 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1009
Abstract
High temperatures and droughts are two natural disasters that cause forest fires. During climate change, the frequent occurrence of high temperatures, droughts, and their coupled effects significantly increase the forest fire risk. To reveal the seasonal and spatial differences in the coupled effects [...] Read more.
High temperatures and droughts are two natural disasters that cause forest fires. During climate change, the frequent occurrence of high temperatures, droughts, and their coupled effects significantly increase the forest fire risk. To reveal the seasonal and spatial differences in the coupled effects of high temperatures and droughts on forest fires, this study used the Copula method and proposed the compound extremely high-temperature and drought event index (CTDI). The results indicated that the study area was subject to frequent forest fires in spring (71.56%), and the burned areas were mainly located in forests (40.83%) and the transition zone between farmland and forests (36.91%). The probability of forest fires in summer increased with high temperatures and drought intensity, with high temperatures playing a dominant role. The highest forest fire hazard occurred in summer (>0.98). The probability of a forest fire occurring under extreme meteorological conditions in summer and fall was more than twice as high as that in the same zone under non-extreme conditions. Droughts play a significant role in the occurrence and spread of forest fires during fall. These results can provide decision-making support for forest fire warnings and fire fighting in the Northeast China forest zone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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20 pages, 13089 KiB  
Article
Development of Vertical Radar Reflectivity Profiles Based on Lightning Density Using the Geostationary Lightning Mapper Dataset in the Subtropical Region of Brazil
by Tiago Bentes Mandú, Laurizio Emanuel Ribeiro Alves, Éder Paulo Vendrasco and Thiago Souza Biscaro
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(20), 3767; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16203767 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 804
Abstract
The study aims to develop vertical radar reflectivity profiles based on lightning density data from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on the GOES-16 satellite in the subtropical region of Brazil. The primary objective is to improve the assimilation of lightning data in numerical [...] Read more.
The study aims to develop vertical radar reflectivity profiles based on lightning density data from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) on the GOES-16 satellite in the subtropical region of Brazil. The primary objective is to improve the assimilation of lightning data in numerical weather prediction models. The methodology involves the analysis of polarimetric radar data from Chapecó-SC and Jaraguari-MS, spanning from January 2019 to December 2023, and their correlation with lightning data from the GLM. Radar reflectivity profiles were created for different lightning density classes, categorized into six classes based on geometric progression. Results show a significant relationship between lightning activity and radar reflectivity, with distinct profiles for convective and stratiform events. These findings demonstrate the potential of using GLM data to enhance short-term weather forecasting, particularly for severe weather events. The study concludes that the integration of GLM data into weather models can lead to more accurate predictions of intense precipitation events, contributing to better preparedness and response strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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15 pages, 3477 KiB  
Article
Resilience Assessment of Urban Road Transportation in Rainfall
by Jiting Tang, Shengnan Wu, Saini Yang and Yongguo Shi
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(17), 3311; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16173311 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1047
Abstract
Transportation resilience, as a component of city sustainability, plays a crucial role in the daily management and emergency response of urban road systems. With coastal cities becoming increasingly vulnerable to typhoons, rainstorms, and other disasters, it is essential to assess the resilience of [...] Read more.
Transportation resilience, as a component of city sustainability, plays a crucial role in the daily management and emergency response of urban road systems. With coastal cities becoming increasingly vulnerable to typhoons, rainstorms, and other disasters, it is essential to assess the resilience of urban road transportation in a refined and differentiated approach. Existing resilience assessment methods often overlook significant biases, neglecting the dynamic response of road traffic and non-stationary characteristics of traffic systems. To address these limitations, we develop a quantitative resilience assessment method for urban road transportation during rainfall that is based on the improved Resilience Triangle. The method is applied to DiDi urban traffic speed and meteorological data of Shenzhen, China, from April to September 2018, with a focus on Typhoon Mangkhut as an extreme weather case. By analyzing transportation resilience variations across road densities, road hierarchies, and rainfall scenarios, we found that road densities and rainfall intensities explain resilience variations better than road hierarchies. Specifically, as accumulative precipitation exceeds 100 mm, a substantial surge in loss of performance is observed. Typhoon rainfalls result in a greater loss in urban road traffic compared to general rainfalls. The results offer valuable insights for urban road planning, traffic emergency management, and transportation resilience construction in the face of increasingly severe weather challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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23 pages, 8320 KiB  
Article
Validation of GPM DPR Rainfall and Drop Size Distributions Using Disdrometer Observations in the Western Mediterranean
by Eric Peinó, Joan Bech, Francesc Polls, Mireia Udina, Marco Petracca, Elisa Adirosi, Sergi Gonzalez and Brice Boudevillain
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(14), 2594; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16142594 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1430
Abstract
Dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on the Core GPM satellite provides spaceborne three-dimensional observations of precipitation fields and surface rainfall rate with quasi-global coverage. The present study evaluates the behavior of liquid precipitation intensity, radar reflectivity factor (ZKu and ZKa) and [...] Read more.
Dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on the Core GPM satellite provides spaceborne three-dimensional observations of precipitation fields and surface rainfall rate with quasi-global coverage. The present study evaluates the behavior of liquid precipitation intensity, radar reflectivity factor (ZKu and ZKa) and drop size distribution (DSD) parameters (weighted mean diameter Dm and intercept parameter Nw) of the GPM DPR-derived products, version 07, from 2014 to 2023. Observations from seven Parsivel disdrometers located in different topographic zones in the Western Mediterranean are taken as ground references. Four matching techniques between satellite estimates and ground level observations were tested, and the best results were found for the so-called optimal comparison approach. Overall, GPM DPR products captured the variability of the observed DSD well at different rainfall intensities. However, overestimation of the mean Dm and underestimation of the mean Nw were observed, being much more sensitive to errors in drop diameters larger than 1.5 mm. Moreover, the lowest errors were found for radar reflectivity factor and Dm, and the highest for Nw and rainfall rate. In addition, the GPM DPR convective and stratiform classification was tested, and a substantial overestimation of stratiform cases compared to disdrometer observations were found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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18 pages, 2310 KiB  
Article
Data Assimilation of Satellite-Derived Rain Rates Estimated by Neural Network in Convective Environments: A Study over Italy
by Rosa Claudia Torcasio, Mario Papa, Fabio Del Frate, Alessandra Mascitelli, Stefano Dietrich, Giulia Panegrossi and Stefano Federico
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1769; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101769 - 16 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1048
Abstract
The accurate prediction of heavy precipitation in convective environments is crucial because such events, often occurring in Italy during the summer and fall seasons, can be a threat for people and properties. In this paper, we analyse the impact of satellite-derived surface-rainfall-rate data [...] Read more.
The accurate prediction of heavy precipitation in convective environments is crucial because such events, often occurring in Italy during the summer and fall seasons, can be a threat for people and properties. In this paper, we analyse the impact of satellite-derived surface-rainfall-rate data assimilation on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model’s precipitation prediction, considering 15 days in summer 2022 and 17 days in fall 2022, where moderate to intense precipitation was observed over Italy. A 3DVar realised at CNR-ISAC (National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate) is used to assimilate two different satellite-derived rain rate products, both exploiting geostationary (GEO), infrared (IR), and low-Earth-orbit (LEO) microwave (MW) measurements: One is based on an artificial neural network (NN), and the other one is the operational P-IN-SEVIRI-PMW product (H60), delivered in near-real time by the EUMETSAT HSAF (Satellite Application Facility in Support of Operational Hydrology and Water Management). The forecast is verified in two periods: the hours from 1 to 4 (1–4 h phase) and the hours from 3 to 6 (3–6 h phase) after the assimilation. The results show that the rain rate assimilation improves the precipitation forecast in both seasons and for both forecast phases, even if the improvement in the 3–6 h phase is found mainly in summer. The assimilation of H60 produces a high number of false alarms, which has a negative impact on the forecast, especially for intense events (30 mm/3 h). The assimilation of the NN rain rate gives more balanced predictions, improving the control forecast without significantly increasing false alarms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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31 pages, 14168 KiB  
Article
Towards the Accurate Automatic Detection of Mesoscale Convective Systems in Remote Sensing Data: From Data Mining to Deep Learning Models and Their Applications
by Mikhail Krinitskiy, Alexander Sprygin, Svyatoslav Elizarov, Alexandra Narizhnaya, Andrei Shikhov and Alexander Chernokulsky
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(14), 3493; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15143493 - 11 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2342
Abstract
Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and associated hazardous meteorological phenomena cause considerable economic damage and even loss of lives in the mid-latitudes. The mechanisms behind the formation and intensification of MCSs are still not well understood due to limited observational data and inaccurate climate [...] Read more.
Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and associated hazardous meteorological phenomena cause considerable economic damage and even loss of lives in the mid-latitudes. The mechanisms behind the formation and intensification of MCSs are still not well understood due to limited observational data and inaccurate climate models. Improving the prediction and understanding of MCSs is a high-priority area in hydrometeorology. One may study MCSs either employing high-resolution atmospheric modeling or through the analysis of remote sensing images which are known to reflect some of the characteristics of MCSs, including high temperature gradients of cloud-top, specific spatial shapes of temperature patterns, etc. However, research on MCSs using remote sensing data is limited by inadequate (in size) databases of satellite-identified MCSs and poorly equipped automated tools for MCS identification and tracking. In this study, we present (a) the GeoAnnotateAssisted tool for fast and convenient visual identification of MCSs in satellite imagery, which is capable of providing AI-generated suggestions of MCS labels; (b) the Dataset of Mesoscale Convective Systems over the European Territory of Russia (DaMesCoS-ETR), which we created using this tool, and (c) the Deep Convolutional Neural Network for the Identification of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MesCoSNet), constructed following the RetinaNet architecture, which is capable of identifying MCSs in Meteosat MSG/SEVIRI data. We demonstrate that our neural network, optimized in terms of its hyperparameters, provides high MCS identification quality (mAP=0.75, true positive rate TPR=0.61) and a well-specified detection uncertainty (false alarm ratio FAR=0.36). Additionally, we demonstrate potential applications of the GeoAnnotateAssisted labelling tool, the DaMesCoS-ETR dataset, and the MesCoSNet neural network in addressing MCS research challenges. Specifically, we present the climatology of axisymmetric MCSs over the European territory of Russia from 2014 to 2020 during summer seasons (May to September), obtained using MesCoSNet with Meteosat MSG/SEVIRI data. The automated identification of MCSs by the MesCoSNet artificial neural network opens up new avenues for previously unattainable MCS research topics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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24 pages, 4941 KiB  
Article
Warm Core and Deep Convection in Medicanes: A Passive Microwave-Based Investigation
by Giulia Panegrossi, Leo Pio D’Adderio, Stavros Dafis, Jean-François Rysman, Daniele Casella, Stefano Dietrich and Paolo Sanò
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(11), 2838; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112838 - 30 May 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
Mediterranean hurricanes (Medicanes) are characterized by the presence of a quasi-cloud-free calm eye, spiral-like cloud bands, and strong winds around the vortex center. Typically, they reach a tropical-like cyclone (TLC) phase characterized by an axisymmetric warm core without frontal structures. Yet, some of [...] Read more.
Mediterranean hurricanes (Medicanes) are characterized by the presence of a quasi-cloud-free calm eye, spiral-like cloud bands, and strong winds around the vortex center. Typically, they reach a tropical-like cyclone (TLC) phase characterized by an axisymmetric warm core without frontal structures. Yet, some of them are not fully symmetrical, have a shallow warm-core structure, and a weak frontal activity. Finding a clear definition and potential classification of Medicanes based on their initiation and intensification processes, understanding the role of convection, and identifying the evolution to a TLC phase are all current research topics. In this study, passive microwave (PMW) measurements and products are used to characterize warm core (WC) and deep convection (DC) for six Medicanes that occurred between 2014 and 2021. A well-established methodology for tropical cyclones, based on PMW temperature sounding channels, is used to identify the WC while PMW diagnostic tools and products (e.g., cloud-top height (CTH) and ice water path (IWP)), combined with lightning data, are used for DC detection and characterization. The application of this methodology to Medicanes highlights the possibility to describe their WC depth, intensity, and symmetry and to identify the cyclone center. We also analyze to what extent the occurrence and characteristics of the WC are related to the Medicane’s intensity and DC development. The results show that Medicanes reaching full TLC phase are associated with deep and symmetric WCs, and that asymmetric DC features in the proximity of the center, and in higher CTH and IWP values, with scarce lighting activity. Medicanes that never develop to a fully TLC structure are associated with a shallower WC, weaker and more sparse DC activity, and lower CTHs and IWP values. Ultimately, this study illustrates the potential of PMW radiometry in providing insights into dynamic and thermodynamic processes associated with Medicanes’ WC characteristics and evolution to TLCs, thus contributing to the ongoing discussion about Medicanes’ definition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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17 pages, 10796 KiB  
Article
Research on the Monitoring Ability of Fengyun-Based Quantitative Precipitation Estimates for Capturing Heavy Precipitation: A Case Study of the “7·20” Rainstorm in Henan Province, China
by Hao Wu, Bin Yong and Zhehui Shen
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(11), 2726; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15112726 - 24 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
One of the important tasks of the Chinese geostationary and meteorological satellite Fengyun-2 (FY2) series is to provide quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) with high spatiotemporal resolutions for East Asia. To analyze the monitoring capabilities of FY2-based QPEs in extreme rainfall events, this study [...] Read more.
One of the important tasks of the Chinese geostationary and meteorological satellite Fengyun-2 (FY2) series is to provide quantitative precipitation estimates (QPE) with high spatiotemporal resolutions for East Asia. To analyze the monitoring capabilities of FY2-based QPEs in extreme rainfall events, this study comprehensively evaluated and compared the performances of FY-2G and FY-2H QPEs for the “7.20” rainstorm in Henan province, China from 17 July 2021 to 22 July 2021. Three continuous metrics and three categorical metrics were adopted to assess the accuracies of FY-2G and FY-2H QPEs, referenced by gauge observations from 116 meteorological stations. The results show that the FY-2G QPE has lower BIAS (−9.64% for FY-2G, −46.22% for FY-2H) and RMSE (5.83 mm/h for FY-2G, 8.4 mm/h for FY-2H) and higher CC (0.57 for FY-2G, 0.24 for FY-2H) than FY-2H QPE in this rainstorm event. Moreover, the FY-2G QPE is not only more consistent with the ground reference with respect to the rainfall amount, but also has higher detecting capability in the “7.20” rainstorm event when compared with the FY-2H QPE. The FY-2G QPE presented a higher capability to correctly capture the precipitation event for the “7.20” rainstorm because of higher POD (probability of detection) and CSI (critical success index) relative to FY-2H QPE, especially in complex topography. From the spatial distribution of precipitation amount, the FY-2G QPE captured the rainstorm center of extreme precipitation more accurately relative to the latest FY-2H product. On the other hand, the previous generation of FY-2G QPE was closer to the continuous rainfall process and precipitation duration with ground observations than the latest FY-2H QPE. Therefore, the precipitation retrieval algorithm of FY-2H QPE still had room to improve. It is necessary to introduce error correction algorithms, especially in complex topography for rainstorm events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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14 pages, 3545 KiB  
Technical Note
Early Detection and Analysis of an Unpredicted Convective Storm over the Negev Desert
by Shilo Shiff, Amir Givati, Steve Brenner and Itamar M. Lensky
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(21), 5241; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15215241 - 4 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1168
Abstract
On 15 September 2015, a convective storm yielded heavy rainfalls that caused the strongest flash flood in the last 50 years in the South Negev Desert (Israel). None of the operational forecast models predicted the event, and thus, no warning was provided. We [...] Read more.
On 15 September 2015, a convective storm yielded heavy rainfalls that caused the strongest flash flood in the last 50 years in the South Negev Desert (Israel). None of the operational forecast models predicted the event, and thus, no warning was provided. We analyzed this event using satellite, radar, and numerical weather prediction model data. We generated cloud-free climatological values on a pixel basis using Temporal Fourier Analysis on a time series of MSG geostationary satellite data. The discrepancy between the measured and climatological values was used to detect “cloud-contaminated” pixels. This simple, robust, fast, and accurate method is valuable for the early detection of convection. The first clouds were detected 30 min before they were detected by the official MSG cloud mask, 4.5 h before the radar, and 10 h before the flood reached the main road. We used the “severe storms” RGB composite and the satellite-retrieved vertical profiles of cloud top temperature–particle’s effective radius relations as indicators for the development of a severe convective storm. We also reran the model with different convective schemes, with much-improved results. Both the satellite and model-based analysis provided early warning for a very high probability of flooding a few hours before the actual flooding occurred. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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14 pages, 8135 KiB  
Technical Note
Assessment of Extreme Ocean Winds within Intense Wintertime Windstorms over the North Pacific Using SMAP L-Band Radiometer Observations
by Mikhail Pichugin, Irina Gurvich and Anastasiya Baranyuk
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(21), 5181; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15215181 - 30 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1629
Abstract
Here, we examine extreme ocean winds associated with intense wintertime extratropical windstorms over the North Pacific. The study was mainly based on NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) L-band radiometer observations allowing the retrieval of ocean wind speeds up to 70 m/s regardless [...] Read more.
Here, we examine extreme ocean winds associated with intense wintertime extratropical windstorms over the North Pacific. The study was mainly based on NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) L-band radiometer observations allowing the retrieval of ocean wind speeds up to 70 m/s regardless of precipitation intensity. Additionally, we assessed the ability of atmospheric reanalysis ERA5 and the Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2) to reproduce high-wind features within severe windstorms, particularly those associated with “explosive” cyclogenesis. The analysis identified 145 windstorm events with hurricane-force (HF) wind zones within the SMAP L-band radiometer swath from 2015 to 2023. These windstorms develop most frequently over two areas: southeast of Kamchatka and south of Alaska, spanning 40–47°N latitudes. Both reanalysis datasets significantly underestimated HF wind speeds compared to SMAP measurements, but CFSv2 tends to reproduce more-intense windstorms than ERA5. Among the notable new findings is that the SMAP data revealed two distinct groups in maximum wind speed distribution, indicating the existence of a separate class of severe windstorm events with a distinct mechanism for extreme wind formation related probably to a Shapiro–Keyser cyclogenesis and the presence of sting jet (SJ) feature. The study highlights the potential of SMAP measurements to study wind extremes and underscores the need for improvements in operational predictive models to better reproduce the formation of SJ windstorms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Extreme Weather Events: Monitoring and Modeling)
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