Enlarged Image(644KB,2280 x 3000 pixel)

- TRMM - PR Cyclone(Pam) -
(Horizontal distribution, AB and CD vertical section image)

Horizontal distribution, AB and CD vertical section image.These images show the fine structure of the rainfall intensity near the cyclone (Pam) center at 17:58 to 18:01 on December 18.

The upper left image shows the horizontal distribution at an altitude of 2.0 km acquired by the precipitation radar. The vertical section sliced at two lines, AB and CD is shown respectively on the lower and the upper right portion respectively.

In the lower image, the vertical section of the precipitation band invortex swirling near the cyclone center. The spot where there is no rain, about 175 km from A is considered a part of the cyclone eye. The powerful layer extended horizontally around at an altitude of 5 km is called a thawing layer where the ice or snow melts into rain. This is one of the features which can be seen in many layer- structured rainfalls. This sort of layer was observed amid the rainfalls with violent convection like a cyclone. In the upper right image, rainfalls deemed the convection-derived precipitation located 20 to 80 km from C is observed, as well as the layered rainfalls containing the thawing layer located 100 to 150 km. The reason why the information near the land surface gets scarce when it moves further from the center of the swath is that the bigger viewing angles from the satellite get, the bigger the influence from reflection against the land surface becomes.

Observation of the rainfall structure by a precipitation radar and estimate of the emitted heat energy height distribution allow us to grasp the extensive air circulation mechanism. �@�@