Satellite image of Typhoon Tip at Peak Intensity

[John Peters]

This is the first i have been able to find of the storm at peak intensity. I remember a discussion in a previous thread in regards to whether the images on NCDC website were of peak intensity (the storm did not appear to be well organized in those images). I must say, it has an appearance very similar to gilbert at it's respective peak intensity.

Typhoon Tip

Hurricane Gilbert

 

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

Am I seeing the stadium effect on these images?

 

[John Peters]

Am I seeing the stadium effect on these images?

what exactly is the stadium effect?

 

[John Peters]

There always seem to be discussions on the immense size of Tip's circulation. By the looks of those satellite images, gilbert appears somewhat comparable. What is the criteria used for judging the circulation diameter of a hurricane?

 

[cdcollura]

There always seem to be discussions on the immense size of Tip's circulation. By the looks of those satellite images, gilbert appears somewhat comparable. What is the criteria used for judging the circulation diameter of a hurricane?

It is the diameter of winds of 35 Knots (38 MPH) or greater, which is tropical-storm forced (gale) wind-field size.

Tip was about 600 miles radius of TS forced winds!!

 

[Derrick Herndon]

There always seem to be discussions on the immense size of Tip's circulation. By the looks of those satellite images, gilbert appears somewhat comparable. What is the criteria used for judging the circulation diameter of a hurricane?

Another definition of size is the radius of the outside closed isobar. This tends to define the limits of the outer circulation. This latter definition of size has little signal in the satellite imagery howevever there has been quite a bit of work involved in relating satellite imagery to the radius of 35, 50, 65 kt winds. 2 recent papers if you are interested:

http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~kossin/articles/kossinetal2007WF.pdf

http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~kossin/articles/MuellerEtAl.pdf