The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at Landfall
Abstract While challenging, quantification of the near‐surface landfalling hurricane wind field is necessary for understanding hurricane intensity changes and damage potential. Using single‐ and dual‐Doppler Doppler on Wheels and in situ anemometer data, the wind structure of the very near‐surface b...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114746 |
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| author | Karen Ann Kosiba Joshua Wurman Paul Robinson |
| author_facet | Karen Ann Kosiba Joshua Wurman Paul Robinson |
| author_sort | Karen Ann Kosiba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract While challenging, quantification of the near‐surface landfalling hurricane wind field is necessary for understanding hurricane intensity changes and damage potential. Using single‐ and dual‐Doppler Doppler on Wheels and in situ anemometer data, the wind structure of the very near‐surface boundary layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) is characterized. Small‐scale hurricane boundary layer (HBL) rolls (HBLRs) with a median size of approximately 400 m are present throughout much of the landfall, but are most vigorous in the eyewall. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and momentum flux associated with HBLRs occur in the eyewall and are much larger than previously documented at landfall. DOW‐derived and anemometer‐derived TKE values are comparable. Observed maximum surface gusts were consistent with the maximum radar wind speeds aloft, suggesting the importance of vertical transport within the HBL by sub‐kilometer scale structures for the enhancement of surface wind speeds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49380e7c16a04cbab811cda7875005bc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-49380e7c16a04cbab811cda7875005bc2025-08-20T02:17:01ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-05-01529n/an/a10.1029/2025GL114746The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at LandfallKaren Ann Kosiba0Joshua Wurman1Paul Robinson2University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USAUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USAUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville AL USAAbstract While challenging, quantification of the near‐surface landfalling hurricane wind field is necessary for understanding hurricane intensity changes and damage potential. Using single‐ and dual‐Doppler Doppler on Wheels and in situ anemometer data, the wind structure of the very near‐surface boundary layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) is characterized. Small‐scale hurricane boundary layer (HBL) rolls (HBLRs) with a median size of approximately 400 m are present throughout much of the landfall, but are most vigorous in the eyewall. The maximum turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and momentum flux associated with HBLRs occur in the eyewall and are much larger than previously documented at landfall. DOW‐derived and anemometer‐derived TKE values are comparable. Observed maximum surface gusts were consistent with the maximum radar wind speeds aloft, suggesting the importance of vertical transport within the HBL by sub‐kilometer scale structures for the enhancement of surface wind speeds.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114746hurricane windstropical cyclone winds |
| spellingShingle | Karen Ann Kosiba Joshua Wurman Paul Robinson The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at Landfall Geophysical Research Letters hurricane winds tropical cyclone winds |
| title | The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at Landfall |
| title_full | The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at Landfall |
| title_fullStr | The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at Landfall |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at Landfall |
| title_short | The Near‐Surface Boundary Layer of Hurricane Laura (2020) at Landfall |
| title_sort | near surface boundary layer of hurricane laura 2020 at landfall |
| topic | hurricane winds tropical cyclone winds |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL114746 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karenannkosiba thenearsurfaceboundarylayerofhurricanelaura2020atlandfall AT joshuawurman thenearsurfaceboundarylayerofhurricanelaura2020atlandfall AT paulrobinson thenearsurfaceboundarylayerofhurricanelaura2020atlandfall AT karenannkosiba nearsurfaceboundarylayerofhurricanelaura2020atlandfall AT joshuawurman nearsurfaceboundarylayerofhurricanelaura2020atlandfall AT paulrobinson nearsurfaceboundarylayerofhurricanelaura2020atlandfall |