Multiple Satellite Microwave Retrieval of Tropical Cyclone Rain Rate and Warm Core Structure

Rain and temperature retrievals from a common algorithm based on microwave sensors onboard five polar orbiting satellites are included to study tropical cyclone (TC) rain rate characteristics and warm core structure. The retrieval algorithm used here is NOAA’s operational Microwave Integrated Retrieval System (MiRS). The five satellites/sensors are S-NPP/ATMS, NOAA-20/ATMS, Metop-B/AMSUA-MHS, Metop-C/AMSUA-MHS, and GPM/GMI. Hurricane Florence occurred, which occured in the Atlantic basin in 2018, is chosen as the study case. Hurricane Matthew in 2016 (before NOAA-20 and Metop-C were launched) is also included to illustrate warm core structure retrieved by MiRS.