Dvorak Technique

Dvorak Technique
Source: Indian Express
GS I: World Geography and Indian Geography; GS III: Environment and Conservation

What is discussed under Dvorak Technique?

Vernon Dvorak, an American meteorologist, died.
The key technique, named after him, is still frequently used by forecasters in the age of superior satellite technology, Machine Learning (ML), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Education

Dvorak was an American meteorologist who developed the Dvorak technique in the early 1970s.
Dvorak received his formal education at the University of California, Los Angeles.
In 1966, he wrote a Master’s thesis titled “An investigation of the inversion-cloud regime over the subtropical waters west of California.”
He was employed by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.

Inventions

Dvorak technique renamed the Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) after a recent software upgrade in May of 2022 by the National Hurricane Centre of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The improved approach would vastly enhance tropical storm forecasts by providing access to crisper and more detailed photos than ever before.

Awards

In 1972, he received the Meritorious Service Award from the United States Department of Commerce.
The National Weather Association honoured him with a Special Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

Definition

According to a 2006 research report published in the Journal of the American Meteorological Society, the Dvorak approach was a cloud pattern identification technique based on the tropical cyclone genesis and decline concept model.
It was initially tested for detecting storms in the northwest Pacific Ocean in 1969.

How does it work?

Forecasters examined the characteristics of emerging tropical storms using satellite photos gathered from polar-orbiting satellites (hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons).
Photos in the visible spectrum were used during the day, while infrared images were used to examine the water at night.
Photo by Neenu Vimalkumar on Unsplash
The Dvorak approach, based on the satellite photos collected, assists forecasters in performing pattern recognition from the observed structure of the storm, locating its eye, and estimating the storm’s severity.
Scientists may quantify the below cyclone’s convective cloud pattern using this statistical approach:
- Curved bands
- Eye and core dense or cold zone
- Shear
The Dvorak approach provides the most accurate estimations of cyclone strength, which is critical when issuing weather warnings.
According to specialists, this instrument cannot assist make predictions, measuring wind or pressure, or any other meteorological data related to the cyclone.
However, it serves as a reference for estimating the storm’s severity and potential intensification, which is critical for local governments in organising evacuation measures for coastal or other adjacent communities.

Many enormous areas throughout the four seas have not been thoroughly explored using meteorological sensors.
The majority of ocean observations are acquired by deploying buoys or specialised ships.
However, the quantity of observations from the oceans is still insufficient globally.
As a result, meteorologists have had to rely increasingly on satellite imagery and integrate it with accessible ocean data for forecasting the strength and wind speed of tropical cyclones.
When forecasters have access to cutting-edge technologies such as model guidance, animations, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and satellite technology, improved versions of the 50-year-old Dvorak approach are still commonly utilised.
It has saved the lives of millions of people worldwide and will continue to do so in the future.

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