3D immersive visualization and evaluation of mesoscale model outputs simulating hurricane Lili´s (2002) rapid weakening

Mesoscale models are routinely used in the forecasting of hurricanes. The accuracy of these model outputs vary depending on the model in use as well as the initial conditions. In this paper, we study 3D immersive visualization as a method for the comparison and analysis of model outputs. We observe that 3D immersive visualization can be an effective tool in the perception, evaluation and the understanding of large geophysical phenomena like hurricanes. We present our study of the unique case of Hurricane Lili, which weakened to a category 1 hurricane from a category 4, in a period of just over 13 hours. This weakening is attributed to a stream of dry air entering the hurricane system from the southwest and weakening the eye wall. Different models have been used by researchers to simulate the events in the 13 hour period and our visualization recreates those events and provides a framework for the comparison of the different model runs.