Influence of Surface Type and Observational Data Source on Understanding Tropical Cyclone Integrated Kinetic Energy: Implications for Storm Damage
Laws, K., Rozoff, C. M., Vigh, J.. (2026). Influence of Surface Type and Observational Data Source on Understanding Tropical Cyclone Integrated Kinetic Energy: Implications for Storm Damage. , doi:https://doi.org/10.5065/7mkf-yb22
| Title | Influence of Surface Type and Observational Data Source on Understanding Tropical Cyclone Integrated Kinetic Energy: Implications for Storm Damage |
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| Genre | Manuscript |
| Author(s) | Keloni Laws, Christopher M. Rozoff, Jonathan Vigh |
| Abstract | Integrated kinetic energy (IKE) can be used to assess the size and magnitude of a tropical cyclone (TC) wind field. When a TC makes landfall, it is imperative that wind information is as accurate as possible to protect infrastructure and lives. The Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Model (WTCM) is currently being tested to be used for forecaster support as soon as next year. To evaluate the performance of WTCM's surface wind representation, we examine Hurricane Laura (2020) and Hurricane Delta (2020) as case studies, comparing the model wind field to flight-level observations after applying a flight level-to-surface reduction factor. Analysis reveals that IKE levels prior to landfall are significantly different between WTCM and the flight data, particularly for Laura. Upon examining threshold wind radii, we observe further disagreement in the winds prior to landfall, predominately seen in the stronger winds. Wind profiles from both storms before landfall reveal that the WTCM struggles with capturing TC asymmetry and winds from their max to the eye and the outer wind field, though it successfully captures the peak winds. Finally, we find that generally the WTCM quickly tapered winds off from the center of the storm as it approached landfall, compared to a more expansive wind structure in the flight-level data. We believe these discrepancies are likely due to the fitting of the WTCM to storm parameters designed to emphasize maximal aspects of the storm (maximum intensity, maximal radial extent of winds) vs. "most-likely" wind values at a given radial location. |
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| Publication Date | Aug 1, 2026 |
| Publisher's Version of Record | https://doi.org/10.5065/7mkf-yb22 |
| OpenSky Citable URL | https://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7ws8zvz |
| OpenSky Listing | View on OpenSky |
| RAL Affiliations | NSAP, JNT |