Maximum potential intensity
Encyclopedia
The maximum potential intensity of a tropical cyclone is the theoretical limit of the strength of a tropical cyclone
. It is computed using the following formula:
Where
is the maximum potential velocity in meters per second
;
is the sea surface temperature
underneath the center of the tropical cyclone,
is a reference temperature (30 ˚C
) and
, 
and 
are curve-fit constants. When 
, 
, and 
, the graph generated by this function corresponds to the 99th percentile of empirical tropical cyclone intensity data.
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
. It is computed using the following formula:
Where
is the maximum potential velocity in meters per secondMetre per second
Metre per second is an SI derived unit of both speed and velocity , defined by distance in metres divided by time in seconds....
;
is the sea surface temperatureSea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
underneath the center of the tropical cyclone,
is a reference temperature (30 ˚CCelsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
) and
, and are curve-fit constants. When , , and , the graph generated by this function corresponds to the 99th percentile of empirical tropical cyclone intensity data.