Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Evaluation of Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) cyclone forecasts using infrared satellite imagery

Nigro, M.A., J.J. Cassano, and S.L. Knuth

2012, Antarctic Science, 24, 183-192, doi:10.1017/S0954102011000745

The Antarctic coast is an area of high cyclonic activity. Specifically, the regions of Terra Nova Bay, in the western Ross Sea, and Byrd Glacier, in the western Ross Ice Shelf, are prone to cyclone development. The United States, New Zealand, and Italian Antarctic Programs conduct extensive research activities in the region of the western Ross Sea. Due to the harsh weather conditions associated with the cyclonic systems that occur in this region and the abundant research activities in the area, it is important to be able to accurately predict the timing, location and strength of cyclones in this sector of Antarctica. This study evaluates the ability of the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (from 2006 to 2009) to accurately forecast cyclones in the region of the western Ross Sea by comparing the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System forecasts to cyclones identified in infrared satellite imagery. The results indicate that the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System is able to accurately predict the presence of cyclones about 40% of the time (at a minimum) and the presence of no cyclones about 70% of the time..