Prediction and Monitoring of Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclones are rapidly rotating storm systems which form almost exclusively over tropical seas. They have a low-pressure center, closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds and a spiral arrangement. Warm ocean waters are the primary source of energy for tropical cyclones. These storms are therefore usually strongest when over or near water, and weaken quite rapidly over land. This makes coastal areas particularly vulnerable to tropical cyclones. Coastal damage can be caused by strong winds and rain, high waves, storm surges and potential tornadoes. Tropical cyclones may also cause multi-hour or multi-day heavy rains up to 40 kilometers from the coastline. Its prediction and monitoring involves the use of visible and infrared satellite imagery for tracking the motion and cloud patterns of cyclones. This book outlines the processes and applications of tropical cyclone prediction and monitoring in detail. It elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to this field. This book will prove to be immensely beneficial to students and researchers in this field.