A novel algorithm for the objective detection of tropical cyclone centres using infrared satellite images

ABSTRACT Tropical cyclones (TCs) are one of nature’s most destructive phenomena, and a key element in forecasting TC tracks is the ability to accurately detect TC centres. In this paper, a novel algorithm has been proposed to objectively detect TC centres using infrared satellite images. Pyramid representation and optical flow technique are utilized to construct the cloud motion wind (CMW) field of each cyclone, and thereafter the centre is determined by analysing the constructed CMW field. Ten TCs formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean in 2014 have been tested to evaluate the performance of the present method, and TC Halong and Rammasun were analysed in detail as instances. Experimental results comparing with forecast track derived from Unisys Weather show that the proposed method provides an accurate detection of TC centres. The present algorithm has a potential to be employed to assist forecasters to detect TC centres.