Tropical Waves Options

NOAA REQUESTS YOUR COMMENTS ON THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER’S TROPICAL WAVE ANALYSIS

The NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Ocean and Tsunami Center is requesting your comments about the Tropical Wave Analysis currently provided from Miami at the National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch.

Currently, the center depicts “Tropical Waves” on its Unified Surface Analysis every six hours during the May to November time frame.

All Tropical Waves are currently depicted the same way, regardless of actual surface conditions. All are shown to have a trough axis on the map.

Some are strong waves with a well-defined surface wind shift, near-gale trades on the north side of the wave, a few millibar pressure drop, and numerous thunderstorms.

While others have no surface wind shift, no strong winds, negligible pressure drop, and no thunderstorms. (See visual posted on bridgedeck.org for an example of both.)

These weak Tropical Waves—which comprise about half or more of the systems depicted —are only detectable at the 700 mb level in the atmosphere (about 2 miles/3 kilometers above the ocean).

NOAA is soliciting your feedback on this analysis and how it might be improved.

Three options are being considered:

1. Continue with existing practice, or

2. Only show on Unified Surface Analysis those waves with significant surface component, or

3. Only show on Unified Surface Analysis those waves with significant surface component AND develop a new “Tropical Wave Only” graphical product

Any comments that you would like to provide as a mariner would be appreciated.

Please send your comments to:

Chris Landsea Chief, Science and Mission Integration Division NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Ocean and Tsunami Center
Chris.Landsea@noaa.gov