Multispectral Image Analysis of Hurricane Gilbert

摘要

Observation of tropical cyclones using conventional image display techniques have been done for some time. Using suitable enhancements it is possible to observe the cloud patterns associated with the outflow or the inflow, but it is difficult to unambiguously differentiate various clouds levels in a multilayer system. However, multispectral image display techniques using visible, infrared and water vapor imagery help resolve this ambiguity. When the different spectral bands are displayed on a full color image processing system, low clouds appear bright red, midlevel clouds appear green, and high level clouds appear yellow and white. Dry descending air as part of the secondary circulation outside of the hurricane has a dark blue tint, whereas moist air at midlevels has a green tint. This paper discusses the principles of multispectral image display techniques and applies this technique to Hurricane Gilbert. Keywords: Satellite imagery; Meteorological satellites; Satellite image display; Hurricanes; Reprints. (jhd)