Observation of non‐developing and developing tropical disturbances over the South China Sea using SSM/I satellite

[1] The columnar water vapor (CWV), columnar liquid water (CLW) and the total latent heat release (TLHR) derived from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) are examined for 13 developing tropical disturbances and 30 non-developing tropical disturbances over the South China Sea (SCS) in 2000 and 2001. The mean TLHR within 500 km of the center of tropical disturbances in the day immediately prior to tropical cyclogenesis for 13 developing tropical disturbances is 4.671 × 1014 W, while the mean maximum daily TLHR within 500 km of the center of tropical disturbances during the lifetime of 30 non-developing tropical disturbances is 2.760 × 1014 W. On average, the mean TLHR of developing tropical disturbances one-day prior to cyclogenesis is 1.7 times the mean maximum daily TLHR of non-developing tropical disturbances. Direct satellite observations from SSM/I reveal that persistent large amount of latent heat release is necessary for the occurrence of tropical cyclogenesis. These results suggest that observations from SSM/I are helpful in determining the potential of development for tropical disturbances.