What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?

Abstract Finger‐like km‐scale features have been observed along the inner‐edge of the eyewall of intense hurricanes. But due to the limited availability of observations, many important aspects of these features remain unknown. In this study, we aim to offer insights on the nature of these phenomena...

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Main Authors: Kun Gao, Joseph Mouallem, Lucas Harris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110810
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author Kun Gao
Joseph Mouallem
Lucas Harris
author_facet Kun Gao
Joseph Mouallem
Lucas Harris
author_sort Kun Gao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Finger‐like km‐scale features have been observed along the inner‐edge of the eyewall of intense hurricanes. But due to the limited availability of observations, many important aspects of these features remain unknown. In this study, we aim to offer insights on the nature of these phenomena based on a four‐day‐duration O(100 m) grid spacing simulation that covers the inner‐core region of an idealized hurricane. The simulation successfully captured the finger‐like features, which closely resemble observed ones. We propose that these features are formed due to the shear instability associated with vertical distribution of the tangential wind in the inner‐core region. This proposed mechanism offers insights on several key characteristics of the features of interest, including their emergence time, frequency, radial location and vertical extent. Our study also demonstrates the feasibility of using multi‐level nesting for O(100 m) grid spacing hurricane simulations and predictions, aligning with the goals for next generation hurricane models.
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spelling doaj-art-d5ef9e4f6aed45a1bd3d684a9ce3f4f12025-08-20T03:25:54ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-12-015123n/an/a10.1029/2024GL110810What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?Kun Gao0Joseph Mouallem1Lucas Harris2Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton NJ USAProgram in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton NJ USANOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Princeton NJ USAAbstract Finger‐like km‐scale features have been observed along the inner‐edge of the eyewall of intense hurricanes. But due to the limited availability of observations, many important aspects of these features remain unknown. In this study, we aim to offer insights on the nature of these phenomena based on a four‐day‐duration O(100 m) grid spacing simulation that covers the inner‐core region of an idealized hurricane. The simulation successfully captured the finger‐like features, which closely resemble observed ones. We propose that these features are formed due to the shear instability associated with vertical distribution of the tangential wind in the inner‐core region. This proposed mechanism offers insights on several key characteristics of the features of interest, including their emergence time, frequency, radial location and vertical extent. Our study also demonstrates the feasibility of using multi‐level nesting for O(100 m) grid spacing hurricane simulations and predictions, aligning with the goals for next generation hurricane models.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110810hurricanetropical cycloneLEShigh‐resolutionFV3inner core
spellingShingle Kun Gao
Joseph Mouallem
Lucas Harris
What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?
Geophysical Research Letters
hurricane
tropical cyclone
LES
high‐resolution
FV3
inner core
title What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?
title_full What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?
title_fullStr What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?
title_full_unstemmed What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?
title_short What Are the Finger‐Like Clouds in the Hurricane Inner‐Core Region?
title_sort what are the finger like clouds in the hurricane inner core region
topic hurricane
tropical cyclone
LES
high‐resolution
FV3
inner core
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110810
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AT lucasharris whatarethefingerlikecloudsinthehurricaneinnercoreregion