1. JTWC Satellite Operations (SATOPs)
Technical Sergeant Richard C. Kienzle,
U. S. Air Force
Joint Typhoon Warning Center Satellite Operations
WMO International Workshop on Satellite Analysis of Tropical Cyclones (IWSATC), Honolulu Hawaii, 13 – 16 April 2011

2. Overview SATOPs Mission Tools Fixing Process
Conference “Items of Interest”
Contacts

3. SATOPs Mission Support JTWC TC Forecast Operations
METWATCH AOR for invest areas
Evaluate disturbances for TC genesis
Assess TC position and intensity
Synergistic relationship with Typhoon Duty Officers (TDOs)
Post-storm F-deck QC

4. SATOPS Tools USAF / MARK IVB Satellite System
USN / FMQ-17 Satellite System (NSDS-E)
Automated Tropical Cyclone Forecast System (ATCF)
Geo-referenced
From FNMOC/NRL
FNMOC and NRL TC Web Pages

5. Fixing Process Position systems every 3 hours
VIS, IR, Multi-spectral
Intensity estimate every 6 hours
Dvorak, subtropical & extratropical
Code and transmit bulletin
Process other agencies’ fixes
E.g., RSMC Dvorak fix, radar & dropsonde fixes
Create position fixes from all available microwave imagery
Post-storm F-deck (fix data) QC
After-the-fact fixes
Quality review of fixes
Feedback to analysts
JAAWIN

6. Technical References
A Workbook on Tropical Clouds and Cloud Systems Observed in Satellite Imagery, 1984 (NAVEDTRA 40971)
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Analysis Using Satellite Data, Dvorak, V. F (NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 11)
Intensity Estimation of Tropical Cyclones During Extratropical Transition, Lander, M. A. & Miller, D., 1997 (JTWC SATOPS TN-97/002)
A Satellite Classification Technique for Subtropical Cyclones, Hebert, P. J. & Poteat K. O (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR )

7. JTWC Adaptations/ In-house Procedures
Shear Technique
Over Land Fixes
Constraints
Monsoon Depressions
Data-T
Local Form
All attempts are made to eliminate systematic differences between analysts through meetings and recurring training

8. Shear Technique Is this the most misused technique? What we think…
Commonly used in developing and dissipating stages when vertical wind shear prevents convective clouds from spiraling into the CSC
This method should be used with great care for weak or initially developing systems as shear distance can result in erroneously high data-T numbers
The NESDIS interpretation…makes sense

9. Over Land Fixes
Satellite analysts will not perform Dvorak intensity estimates over large land masses such as Australia, China, India, Africa, and other mainland areas. These areas also include the larger islands in the AOR, especially ones with mountainous topography, such as the Philippines, Taiwan, Mainland Japan, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, La Reunion, and the Hawaiian Islands.
Dvorak intensity estimates should be performed when possible; however, performing a Dvorak intensity estimate over or near land will be a combined decision of the satellite analyst and the Typhoon Duty Officer on duty. If the decision is to perform the estimate the following remark will be added to the remarks section of the Fix Entry Page. “Dvorak intensity may not be representative due to land influences.”
If the satellite analyst does not perform an intensity estimate append the following remark to the remarks section of the Fix Entry Page. “Intensity estimate not performed due to systems proximity to land.”

10. Constraints
While Dvorak constraints limit the amount of fix-to-fix variability due to rather short-lived fluctuations in system convection, it is sometimes necessary to break constraints to represent a rapidly developing or weakening trend
In this case, the analyst is encouraged to break constraints to provide the Typhoon Duty Officer (TDO) and JTWC customers with the most accurate data possible
You must provide sound reasoning for breaking constraints in the remarks section of the fix bulletin
Consult with the TDO and contact SATOPS NCOIC prior to deviating from the current Final-T by ≥2.0

11. Monsoon Depressions
Assign an initial intensity of T0.0 since the Dvorak technique doesn’t handle these systems well (position only fix – not transmitted – for in-house use only)
Continue assigning T0.0 until Dvorak patterns and rules apply
Common in western Pacific, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal

12. Data-T Often analysts are compelled to determine a Data-T
Many times Data-T is difficult to determine
We tell analysts to move forward without the Data-T if you are not confident
Rely on the Pattern and Model for your final-T determination

13. Local Form

14. Current Intensity
Play it by the book; CI always equals final-t during intensification
CI is held the same at initial weakening
CI is held ½ or 1 higher as system weakens
When weakening flat lines, we typically hold the CI higher for a minimum of 12 hours, then drop it to equal the final-t

15. Other Data Sources
We DO use other sources to aid in positioning such as surface/ship/buoy observations, weather radar, scatterometry data, and microwave imagery
Dvorak intensity estimates ARE NOT adjusted to reflect wind speed from other sources of data
Dvorak methods were developed long before these new sources; Dvorak is one piece of the puzzle for the TDO and should be as objective as possible
If Dvorak is modified based on other data, it is no longer the Dvorak method

16. The Test of Time
Dvorak’s procedures have withstood the test of time very well
Seasoned analysts will tell you to look past some of the detail when determining intensity; this detail was not there 25 years ago
Impacts of animation and high-resolution imagery
Advent of other data sources (scat, microwave, and others)

17. Pressure-Wind Relationship
Central pressure not operationally important to JTWC
Provided as a derivative product in data sets
Atkinson-Holiday: Until mid-2007
Knaff-Zehr: Mid 2007 to Present
Courtney-Knaff: Under development
Complex/numerous input required
OMCI
Latitude
SOA
Horizontal size
Vmax

18. Best Track Records
Criteria used to determine a tropical cyclone for warning/forecasting purposes are also used to determine entrance into historical records (TD in WNP, TS elsewhere)
JTWC has added and deleted cyclones from data set before archiving based on reanalysis
Recent example
TS 27W (Haiyan) added to JTWC archives though no warnings issued by JTWC
Described in 2007 Annual Tropical Cyclone Report

19. Questions