XVMDXV

XVMDXV is a research instrument developed by a consortium of atmospheric scientists and engineers for the purpose of monitoring high‑altitude vortex phenomena associated with tropical cyclogenesis. The acronym stands for eXtraordinary Vortex Monitoring Device for X‑phenomena and was selected to emphasize the focus on rare, transient vortex structures that influence global weather patterns.

The design of XVMDXV was initiated in 2014 at the Institute for Meteorological Research in Kyoto, in partnership with the European Space Agency. The project received funding from the European Research Council and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The first prototype was flown on a weather balloon in 2016, and the instrument was subsequently integrated into the satellite platform “MeteorSat‑II” in 2018.

XVMDXV incorporates a suite of high‑precision sensors, including a Doppler radar module, a dual‑polarization L‑band radar, and an array of ultraviolet and visible photometers. The system is capable of measuring wind speeds up to 250 km/h, temperature gradients with a resolution of 0.01 °C, and aerosol particle concentrations at altitudes between 20 and 30 km. Data are transmitted in real time through the Iridium satellite network, providing near‑real‑time updates to meteorological centers worldwide.

Since its deployment, XVMDXV has contributed to several major studies on the formation of tropical cyclones and has been cited in more than twenty peer‑reviewed publications. The instrument is currently planned for a two‑year maintenance phase, during which its radar array will be upgraded to support higher resolution imaging. Future plans include expanding the sensor suite to incorporate infrared imaging capabilities to further enhance the detection of vortex‑driven convection.

The XVMDXV project is managed by the Joint Operations Center for Atmospheric Research and the data it collects are made available to the scientific community under a Creative Commons license.