Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Atmospheric and Earth Science
Committee Chair
Lawrence Carey
Committee Member
Xiaomin Chen
Research Advisor
Patrick Duran
Subject(s)
Hurricanes--Remote sensing, Cyclones--Tropics--Remote sensing, Lightning, Hurricane Ian 2022
Abstract
Tropical cyclone (TC) rapid intensification (RI) is difficult to forecast but is a crucial element of TC forecasts and impacts. How lightning evolves prior to and during RI is of interest to better understanding TC RI. Results have not found a consensus in the flash rates within the inner core of rapidly intensifying TCs, indicating that there is not an understanding of these processes. Using the optical energy, measured by satellite imagery, the lightning behavior is investigated during Hurricane Ian's two RI periods, the first with almost no lightning and the second with nearly constant lightning. Radar measurements indicate that the updrafts in the second RI period are larger and more contiguous than in the first RI period, indicating that perhaps the shape and size of updrafts that are of the magnitude to contribute to TC RI may contribute to an increase in flash rate and optical energy.
Recommended Citation
Mollette, Kiahna, "GOES-16 GLM optical energy in the inner core of Hurricane Ian during two rapid intensification periods" (2024). Theses. 710.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/710