The significance of the atmospheric boundary layer on tropical cyclone formation, maintenance and intensity change is well known. It is here where the strongest winds are found and where ocean-atmosphere exchanges of heat, moisture and momentum occur. However, largely due to weather-related safety concerns and platform unavailability and survivability, limited detailed information is known about this turbulent environment. Using a mix of tropical cyclone data taken from 100’s of air-sea buoys, measurements from recent unmanned aircraft experiments and observations from sea surface temperature capable GPS dropsondes, analyses will be presented that look to extend the current body of knowledge associated with this critically important, yet difficult to observe region of the storm.
