Dvorak technique

The Dvorak technique (developed in 1974 by Vernon Dvorak) is a widely used system to subjectively estimate tropical cyclone intensity based solely on visible and infrared satellite images. Several agencies issue Dvorak numbers for cyclones of sufficient intensity. These include the National Hurricane Center's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB), the NOAA/NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB), the Joint Typhoon Warning Center at the Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA).

Dvorak Technique Media

• DvorakCDP1973.png

  Common developmental patterns seen during tropical cyclone development, and their Dvorak-assigned intensities

• Subtropical Storm Andrea 2007.jpg

  The Dvorak technique does not correctly diagnose cyclone intensity for storms like Subtropical Storm Andrea since it only applies to tropical cyclones

• Haiyan 2013-11-07 1430Z IR-BD lineless.png

  Dvorak enhancement imagery of Typhoon Haiyan at T8.0

• Wilma-17-1315z-T30-discussion1500z.png

  Tropical Storm Wilma at T3.0

• Dennis-06-1445z-T40-discussion1500z.png

  Tropical Storm Dennis at T4.0

• Jeanne-22-1945z-T50-discussion2100z.png

  Hurricane Jeanne at T5.0

• Emily-14-1915z-T60-discussion15-0300z.png

  Hurricane Emily at T6.0

Other websites

Agencies issuing Dvorak intensity estimates

• UW-CIMSS (Advanced Dvorak Technique)
• NOAA/NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch
• Air Force Weather Agency Archived 2006-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
• About the TAFB

Other

• Tropical Cyclone Intensity Analysis and Forecasting from Satellite Imagery Dvorak, 1974. (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• Dvorak Tropical Cyclone Wind Speed Biases Determined from Reconnaissance-based "Best Track" Data (1997-2003) Franklin and Brown
• The Dvorak Technique Through Time Dr. Jack Beven. (WRF File. Requires WebEx player)