Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Winterbottom, Henry Robert
Author's Email Address	hwinter@met.fsu.edu
URN	etd-11092006-153511
Title	Algorithms for Advanced Tropical Cyclone Visualization
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Meteorology, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Xiaolei Zou Committee Chair Gordon Erlebacher Committee Co-Chair Gousheng Liu Committee Member Mark Bourassa Committee Member
Keywords	Vortex Removal Tropical Cyclone Visualization Amira Environmental Steering Flow
Date of Defense	2006-09-21
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract With the events of recent years - especially in the Atlantic tropical basin, the need for additional forecast tools to aid in tropical cyclone (TC) prediction and understanding is apparent. A suite of algorithms to be used for 3-D TC visualization are presented. Utilizing the assets of the Amira visualization software, we present methods which constitute a real-time visualization routine of TC genesis, mesoscale, and TC centered features derived from the The Florida State University (FSU) adaptation of the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Fifth Generation Mesoscale Model (MM5). However, the algorithms we develop are generic in that they can be applied to any gridded output from a forecast model. A method for the removal TC vorticity fields allowing an approximation of the environmental steering levels is also developed. The development and use of an adaptive wavenumber refinement filter (AWRF) has proven to outperform various alternative methods for TC vortex removal and thus the preservation of the environmental flow. Case study inter-comparisons are performed and illustrate that the AWRF provides the smallest mean track errors in future forecast position compared to those determined by the model's use of minimum sea level pressure (SLP) and vorticity maxima algorithm for TC center location. Discussions are also provided suggesting areas of needed improvement within the algorithm as illustrated by the case studies presented.
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