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SFMR Data sets
The Hurricane Research Division collects Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) data sets on some of the tropical cyclones they fly into. We collect these data sets from the NOAA P3 aircraft that are equiped with the sensors and process them at the end of each Field Program. By clicking on a storm and year from the list below you will go to a page which shows the flights with links to that data set. For information on the data format go here.

Starting in 2007, SFMR data is also available from USAF flights. The processed surface winds and rain rate from the SFMR are included in the data files for each mission, as well as the raw temperature outputs for each frequency. Similarly, SFMR data from NOAA flights is included in the NetCDF version of each flight's data.

Please note that we don't necessarily collect SFMR information on every hurricane that occurs, so this list isn't for all of the storms for every year. We may only process SFMR data for flights of interest. If you would like SFMR data from a storm you don't see listed, contact Heather Holbach.

2008 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Fay Gustav Ike
2007 Hurricane Season
SFMR data now included in flight data
2006 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Ernesto Helene
2005 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Cindy Dennis Katrina Ophelia Rita Wilma
2004 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Frances Jeanne
2003 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Fabian Isabel
2002 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Edouard Isidore Lili
2001 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Humberto
2000 Hurricane Season
Atlantic *** No data due to instrument failures ***
1999 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Bret Dennis Floyd Irene Lenny
1998 Hurricane Season
Atlantic Bonnie Danielle Earl Georges

References :

Uhlhorn, Eric W., Peter G. Black, James L. Franklin, Mark Goodberlet, James Carswell, Alan S. Goldstein, 2007 : Hurricane Surface Wind Measurements from an Operational Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer, Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 135, No. 9 pp. 3070-3085.

Uhlhorn, E. and P. Black, 2003: Verification of remotely sensed sea surface winds in hurricanes. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., Vol. 20, pp. 99-116.


Questions or comments, contact Heather Holbach
Last update 2004/04/13

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