NOAA Seminar: Evidence of Abundant Aerosols Near Cloud Clusters that Developed Into Tropical Cyclone

Posted on: September 16, 2020

OneNOAA Science Seminar Series

Description:  OneNOAA Science Seminar series

Note: This seminar will be presented online only.

Presenter:  Dr. Chris Collimore, NOAA CESSRST/City College of New York

Sponsor: STAR Science Seminar Series

Remote Access:
https://noaa-nesdis-star.webex.com/noaa-nesdis-star/j.php?MTID=m3624b4c95c572bb0ccb68d4200032db6
Meeting number: 199 416 6603
Password: STARSeminar

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Abstract:

The relationship between aerosol concentrations and tropical cyclone (TC) formation is investigated. Sixty-three convective cloud clusters in the tropical Atlantic that developed into TCs (developers) and 98 tropical Atlantic clusters that dissipated before becoming a TC (nondevelopers) were examined. Aerosol content (as measured by satellite-derived aerosol optical depth) near developers was averaged; likewise for nondevelopers. The average aerosol content surrounding developers was much higher than that surrounding nondevelopers. This indicates high aerosol concentrations do not significantly inhibit a cluster’s ability to develop into a TC, which is contrary to widespread perception. Several analyses indicate the measured difference between developer and nondeveloper aerosol content is quite robust.