Influence of Satellite Observation Angle to Tropical Cyclone Intensity Estimation Using the Deviation Angle Variance Technique

The deviation angle variance (DAV) method was developed to objectively estimate tropical cyclone (TC) intensity from geostationary infrared (IR) brightness temperature data. Here, we demonstrate that improvements of 25% root mean square error (RMSE) in major hurricane intensity estimation (relative to best track) can be obtained by considering the pixel-by-pixel satellite view angle in the estimation. Using data from the Chinese Fengyun 2E and 2F satellites for Super Typhoon Soudelor (2015), we demonstrate how the satellite observation angle can reduce the accuracy of intensity estimation, especially for the strongest TCs. Based on these results, an improved DAV estimator is developed using 12 years (2004-2015) of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-East satellite IR images over the North Atlantic basin.