Educate me

[Anonymous]

I know that the temps inside and outside of the eye are somehow important to forecating strength, but I don't know how. Any insight on this?

[MGC]

Tropical cyclones are considered "warm core." Inside the eye of a tropical cyclone air is sinking. When air sinks it compresses. When you compress a gas it warms hence the air temp inside the eye is warmer than the air outside the eye which is rising. The greater the temperature generally the more intense the tropical cyclone......MGC

[Anonymous]

I know that they frequently compare the difference between the two. What i don;t understand is wht it does for you that wind speed and pressure do not. I understand gas laws, temp and all that, as I am a rescue diver/firefighter/paramedic and we deal with that all the time. I understand what you are saying, I just don't understand the relationship in the vortex messages between temp inside and outside the eye.

[Hurrilurker]

I'm just going to guess a greater temperature difference within the inside and outside of the wall denotes a steeper gradient between air moving up and down and thus a more active, more powerful storm. (?)