Real-time Internet distribution of satellite products for tropical cyclonereconnaissance

Tropical cyclone (TC) monitoring requires the use of multiple satellites an d sensors to accurately assess TC location and intensity. Visible and infra red (vis/IR) data provide the bulk of TC information, but upper-level cloud obscurations inherently limit this important dataset during a storm's life cycle. Passive microwave digital data and imagery can provide key storm st ructural details and offset many of the vis/IR spectral problems. The abili ty to view storm rainbands, eyewalls, impacts of shear, and exposed low-lev el circulations, whether it is day or night, makes passive microwave data a significant tool for the satellite analyst. Passive microwave capabilities for TC reconnaissance are demonstrated via a near-real-time Web page creat ed by the Naval Research Laboratory in Monterey, California. Examples are u sed to illustrate tropical cyclone monitoring. Collocated datasets are inco rporated to enable the user to see many aspects of a storm's organization a nd development by quickly accessing one location.