Examining tropical cyclone structure and intensification with the FLIGHT+ dataset from 1999 to 2012

In situ data collected at the 700-hPa flight level by NOAA WP-3D and USAF WC-130 aircraft from 1999 to 2012 are analyzed. A total of 233 azimuthal mean profiles comprising 1498 radial legs are stratified by TC intensity and 12-h intensity change.

A matrix of composite structures is created for minor (category 1 and 2) and major (category 3 and above) hurricanes that are intensifying [intensity increase >= 10 kt (12 h)(-1)], steady state [intensity change between 65 kt (12 h) 21], and weakening [intensity decrease <= -10 kt (12 h)(-1)]. Additional considerations to the impacts of age on TC structure are given as well. Axisymmetric radial composites reveal that intensifying TCs have statistically significant structural differences from TCs that are steady state or weakening, but that these differences also depend on the intensity of the TC.