An objective method for forecasting tropical cyclone intensity using Nimbus-5 electrically scanning microwave radiometer measurements

An empirical analysis program, based on finding an optimal representation of the data, is applied to 120 observations of 29 1973 and 1974 North Pacific tropical cyclones. It is found that the algorithms developed from the Nimbus-5 Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer (ESMR-5) base alone outperformed the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) operational forecast for the 48 and 72 hour maximum wind speed. It is also found that the ESMR-5 data base, when combined with the non-satellite base, produced algorithms that improved the 24 and 48 hour maximum wind-speed forecast by as much as 10% and the 72 hour maximum wind forecast by approximately 16% as compared to the forecast obtained from the algorithms developed from the non-satellite data base alone.