A unified view of tropical cyclogenesis and intensification
Abstract
Idealized high‐resolution numerical simulations of tropical cyclogenesis are presented in a model that represents deep convection by a warm rain process only. Starting with an initially weak, cloud‐free, axisymmetric warm‐cored vortex (maximum wind speed 5 m s−1 at a radius of 100 km), rapid vortex intensification begins after a gestation period on the order of 2 days. From a three‐dimensional perspective, the genesis process is similar to that in the rotating convection paradigm for vortex intensification starting with a much stronger initial vortex (Vmax = 15 m s−1). The patterns of deep convection and convectively amplified cyclonic relative vorticity are far from axisymmetric during the genesis period. Moreover, the organization of the cyclonic relative vorticity into a monopole structure occurs at relatively low wind speeds, before the maximum local wind speed has increased appreciably. Barotropic processes are shown to play an important role in helping to consolidate a single‐signed vorticity monopole within a few hours near the intensification begin time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 23, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1002/qj.2934
Entities
People
- Gerard Kilroy
- Michael T. Montgomery
- Roger K. Smith
Organizations
- German Research Foundation
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation
- Naval Postgraduate School
- Office of Naval Research Global