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.