SYNOPTIC INTERPRETATIONS OF CLOUD VORTEX ATTERNS AS OBSERVED BY METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES

Correlations between cloud features in vortex patterns and conventional synoptic parameters were examined. These studies were limited both by the lack of sufficient quantities of TIROS data considered representative of the earlier stages of vortex development, and by the inadequacies of conventional weather analyses over many ocean areas. For vortices normally representative of the more advanced stages of development, the one standard deviation circle, for the distance between the position of the cloud vortex center and that of the related surface pressure center, had a radius of 148 nautical miles. At 500 mb, the corresponding value was 109 nautical miles. In both cases, it appears a considerable part of this position difference may often be ascribable to uncertainty as to the true position of the pressure center. In general, intermediate stage vortices were better related to surface pressure center positions; in advanced stages, the relation to the 500 mb center is improved. (Author)