Cyclone Center Talk

Following Spirals to Storm Center

  • TheNerd by TheNerd

    I've noticed in several of the tutorial images these handy black arrows drawn around the spirals, pointing toward the center. The only thing is, when I try to draw those in myself (mentally), I can't for the life of me figure out how to do it. Everything looks like disks and rings and bands. I know that the center of mass isn't necessarily the storm center, and that the coldest spots aren't necessarily the storm center, but how do identify spirals hidden in the masses?
    Examples:
    Example1
    http://talk.cyclonecenter.org/objects/ACC0005rha
    Example2
    http://talk.cyclonecenter.org/objects/ACC00065fj
    Example3
    http://talk.cyclonecenter.org/objects/ACC00060pj
    Example4
    http://talk.cyclonecenter.org/objects/ACC0005tee
    Example5
    http://talk.cyclonecenter.org/objects/ACC00065h5

    Posted

  • daneel_olivaw by daneel_olivaw

    I think it comes to experience. I'm no expert and I don't play one on TV but, for example, this is how I picture your first image:

    Some storms appear to be more difficult than other, though. :\

    Posted

  • daneel_olivaw by daneel_olivaw

    Also, a handy hint: on the Southern Hemisphere winds turn clockwise (leaving low pressures to their right) and vice versa for the Northern Hemisphere. ..

    Which reminds me that a line marking the equator on the map would be useful.

    Here's one I'm classifying right now and my interpretation (which could be wrong)
    No arrows:
    Without lines

    Arrows:
    With lines

    Posted

  • TheNerd by TheNerd

    "on the Southern Hemisphere winds turn clockwise (leaving low pressures to their right) and vice versa for the Northern Hemisphere"
    I've noticed that the classification sample images and icons (which we select below the primary image) are mirrored depending on North or South, to reflect the direction of rotation in the hemispheres.
    In the North I see this Rotation and in the South I see the same image facing the other direction.

    Posted

  • Jeshyr by Jeshyr

    I'm finding the low-grade curved band ones to be the hardest to "find" spirals in. Something like this one http://talk.cyclonecenter.org/objects/ACC0002swy i can't see anything at all that's spiral-like honestly!

    Posted

  • Jeshyr by Jeshyr

    Another good example of something that gives me trouble: http://talk.cyclonecenter.org/objects/ACC0005vdc

    Posted

  • cch001 by cch001 scientist

    Jeshyr, you present a couple of good examples of weaker storms where it is difficult to find a center, even if you are an expert. What I do is use the center of the circular "blob" as the center by default, and then try to use any curvature that I can see from the bands to adjust my default location. Usually I'll end up pretty close to where I started, but not all the time.

    Posted

  • TheNerd by TheNerd

    That's helpful, cch011, thanks!

    Posted

  • Jeshyr by Jeshyr

    It is definitely helpful to know that even experts have trouble with these - I was beginning to feel really stupid!!

    I know it's early days but are you finding you're getting fairly congruent gradings from different users on the same storm?? I often feel like I am guessing for the weaker storms especially and I wonder if we all seem to come up with reasonably similar results or if they diverge a lot..

    Posted

  • sestevens by sestevens scientist

    jeshyr, we're wondering that, too! We haven't gotten a chance to look at the output yet, so we haven't been able to do any quick analysis. Definitely don't be discouraged by the difficult ones. The different ways that people can see this are exactly the reason we're asking for help in the first place!

    Posted

  • Jeshyr by Jeshyr

    Thanks sestevens, the reassurance is really helpful to me 😃 I'm fascinated by the diversity of storms....

    Posted