Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions?
Abstract In this study w e explored why the different initial tropical cyclone structures can result in different steady‐state maximum intensities in model simulations with the same environmental conditions. We discovered a linear relationsh ip between the radius of maximum wind (rm) and the absolut...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085980 |
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| author | Dandan Tao Michael Bell Richard Rotunno Peter Jan vanLeeuwen |
| author_facet | Dandan Tao Michael Bell Richard Rotunno Peter Jan vanLeeuwen |
| author_sort | Dandan Tao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this study w e explored why the different initial tropical cyclone structures can result in different steady‐state maximum intensities in model simulations with the same environmental conditions. We discovered a linear relationsh ip between the radius of maximum wind (rm) and the absolute angular momentum that passes through rm (Mm) in the model simulated steady‐state tropical cyclones that rm = aMm+b. This nonnegligible intercept b is found to be the key to making a steady‐state storm with a larger Mm more intense. The sensitivity experiments show that this nonzero b results mainly from horizontal turbulent mixing and decreases with decreased horizontal mixing. Using this linear relationship from the simulations, it is also found that the degree of supergradient wind is a function of Mm as well as the turbulent mixing length such that both a larger Mm and/or a reduced turbulent mixing length result in larger supergradient winds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4ea760a9a76d4d49aeb85b7e587c7a79 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-4ea760a9a76d4d49aeb85b7e587c7a792025-08-20T02:31:27ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072020-02-01473n/an/a10.1029/2019GL085980Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions?Dandan Tao0Michael Bell1Richard Rotunno2Peter Jan vanLeeuwen3Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USADepartment of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USANational Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USADepartment of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USAAbstract In this study w e explored why the different initial tropical cyclone structures can result in different steady‐state maximum intensities in model simulations with the same environmental conditions. We discovered a linear relationsh ip between the radius of maximum wind (rm) and the absolute angular momentum that passes through rm (Mm) in the model simulated steady‐state tropical cyclones that rm = aMm+b. This nonnegligible intercept b is found to be the key to making a steady‐state storm with a larger Mm more intense. The sensitivity experiments show that this nonzero b results mainly from horizontal turbulent mixing and decreases with decreased horizontal mixing. Using this linear relationship from the simulations, it is also found that the degree of supergradient wind is a function of Mm as well as the turbulent mixing length such that both a larger Mm and/or a reduced turbulent mixing length result in larger supergradient winds.https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085980maximum potential intensityaxisymmetric tropical cyclone theorylinear relationshipangular momentum |
| spellingShingle | Dandan Tao Michael Bell Richard Rotunno Peter Jan vanLeeuwen Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions? Geophysical Research Letters maximum potential intensity axisymmetric tropical cyclone theory linear relationship angular momentum |
| title | Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions? |
| title_full | Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions? |
| title_fullStr | Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions? |
| title_short | Why Do the Maximum Intensities in Modeled Tropical Cyclones Vary Under the Same Environmental Conditions? |
| title_sort | why do the maximum intensities in modeled tropical cyclones vary under the same environmental conditions |
| topic | maximum potential intensity axisymmetric tropical cyclone theory linear relationship angular momentum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085980 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dandantao whydothemaximumintensitiesinmodeledtropicalcyclonesvaryunderthesameenvironmentalconditions AT michaelbell whydothemaximumintensitiesinmodeledtropicalcyclonesvaryunderthesameenvironmentalconditions AT richardrotunno whydothemaximumintensitiesinmodeledtropicalcyclonesvaryunderthesameenvironmentalconditions AT peterjanvanleeuwen whydothemaximumintensitiesinmodeledtropicalcyclonesvaryunderthesameenvironmentalconditions |