Cloud system extraction in tropical cyclones by mountain-climbing

A novel algorithm is proposed to extract cloud systems and spiral pattern of tropical cyclones (TCs) in infrared (IR) images. This mountain-climbing algorithm, inspired by mountain-climbing, defines cloud-system extraction as the problem of traversing all the peaks of the “cloud mountain” formed by a TC's cloud system. Several moving rules and stop criteria are made to define the search behaviors and constrain the traversal process. Six examples are used to validate the algorithm.

Research highlights► An original method inspired by mountain-climbing. ► Extract cloud system directly from high-resolution infrared images without needing to make specific preprocessings. ► Only two parameters to control the whole extraction process.