Study of the intensity of super cyclonic storm GONU using satellite observations

Satellite microwave measurements show sea surface temperature (SST) increase in advance of significant cyclone intensification. Moreover, cyclone intensification may also be related to the location of high SST. In the present study results indicate pre-existing high sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) located at the right side of the storm track for Cyclone GONU. I emphasize that high SST which occurred at the right time and right place was conducive to the cyclone intensification. In particular, high SST in the northeastern quadrant of the storm track induced significant increases in surface latent heat fluxes contributing to the rapid intensification of GONU. The present study also focuses on the air-sea interactions associated with cyclone GONU. Surface latent heat flux (SLHF) and precipitation rate (PR) increase anomalously prior to landfall as compared to when the GONU was at its maximum intensity (category 5). Wind speed and rain-rate data from satellite observations show breakup of the eye-wall and asymmetric structure leading to increased precipitation prior to landfall. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.