temperature of cloud tops

[plazaglass]

What does the temperature of cloud tops indicate when talking about tropical cyclones?

Thanks,
Mary

[JonathanBelles]

The colder the temperature of the cloud tops, the higher they are, and the more intense the convection and/or storm.

[pojo]

tropical systems have cold clouds throughout the system.... that usually tells us that a) the colder the cloud tops, the higher the clouds (some do reach the stratosphere) and b) the storm is strengthening.

Because tropical system is a surface low pressure, there is a high pressure that sits directly over the low in the upper atmo... forcing the calm warm air downward to the surface low... once at the surface the air cools and rises in the eyewall and throughout the rest of the storm. (air flows from high to low)