TROPICS07: Satellite-Based Tropical Cyclone Intensity Estimates

A constellation of five small satellites provides nearly all-weather, high-temporal-resolution observations of tropical cyclones. The TROPICS Tropical Cyclone Intensity Estimate (TCIE) algorithm uses microwave brightness temperatures from specific spectrometer channels to estimate Minimum Sea Level Pressure and Maximum Sustained Winds. This validated data release starts in August 2021 for the pathfinder satellite and June 2023 for the full constellation.

Use Cases

• Estimating tropical cyclone intensity (MSLP and MSW) based on microwave brightness temperature perturbations.
• Analyzing storm structure using temperature profiles from seven channels near 118.75 GHz.
• Investigating water vapor and precipitation using three channels near 183 GHz and a 90 GHz channel.
• Studying cloud ice particles using a dedicated channel near 205 GHz.
• Validating and improving intensity estimation algorithms with satellite-derived data.

Strengths

• Data is derived from a dedicated constellation of five identical small satellites, providing high temporal resolution.
• The TCIE algorithm is validated and uses specific microwave channels (Ch. 1, 6, 7) and ancillary track data.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA Earthdata and Data.gov signals its importance and curation.

Limitations

• Column names and dataset size (rows, file size) are not provided in any source, limiting technical assessment.
• Author information is listed as 'unknown' or 'None' across platforms.
• One source lists a 'last updated' date of 2026-04-09, which is a future date and may indicate a metadata error.

Provenance

Source

NASA GES DISC (Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center).

Collection Method

Data produced by the TROPICS TCIE algorithm developed at the University of Wisconsin/CIMSS, using brightness temperatures from the TROPICS satellite constellation.

Time Range

August 2021 to present (Pathfinder data from August 2021, constellation data from June 2023).

Freshness

Last updated metadata date is listed as 2026-04-09 21:19:51.063306 on two platforms, though this is a future date.

Geography

Global, with a focus on tropical cyclone basins.