NOAA-NESDIS
Regional And Mesoscale Meteorology Team
Daily Satellite Discussion
Wednesday October 8,1997
GOES-8 10.7 micrometer images of Hurricane Pauline
from Oct. 6 and 7, 1997
GOES-8 10.7 micrometer images of Hurricane Pauline
from Oct. 7 and 8, 1997
Hurricane Pauline intensified to a Category 3 status on the Saffir-Simpson Intensity scale, as it approached Mexico. This is the 8th hurricane to form in the active East Pacific this season. These images show a rapid increase in intensity between 0Z and 6Z on October 7. In the early morning hours of Oct. 7, the National Hurricane Center advisories upgraded Pauline from a Category 1 Hurricane with 65 knot winds and a 987 mb central pressure to a Category 4 Hurricane with 115 knot winds and a central pressure of 948 mb. By comparison, a typical intensity increase is a rise in wind speed of 15-20 knots per day, along with a central pressure decrease of 15 mb per day. This sudden of an intesification is rare and is a phenomenon that is not fully understood.

A warm eye accompanied by a cold inner cloud ring are characteristics of a tropical cyclone that is increasing in its itensity. Notice how the convective activity "compresses" into a small area surrounding the eye from Oct. 6_23:45 to Oct. 7_03:15. This is shown by the increase in yellow (-80 deg. C) along with a decrease in convection in the outer bands between the two times. This is a characteristic of a rapidly intensifying storm.

According to satellite estimates by the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Pauline fluctuates between a Category 3 and 4 during the time period of these images, moving slowly toward the North/Northwest.


Carol Vaughn

We welcome your comments and discussion at ramsdis@comet.ucar.edu

Previous RAMMT Daily Satellite Discussions
Information Contact: Jack Dostalek
CIRA/RAMM WebMaster: Roger Phillips
Author: Carol Vaughn
Last Updated: October 8, 1997