The generation of kinetic energy in tropical cyclones revisited
Abstract
Many previous diagnoses of the global kinetic energy budget for a tropical cyclone have given prominence to the global integral of a pressure–work term in the generation of kinetic energy. However, in his erudite textbook Atmosphere–Ocean Dynamics, Adrian Gill derives a form of the kinetic energy equation in which there is no such explicit source term. In this article we revisit the interpretations of the generation of kinetic energy given previously in light of Gill's analysis and compare the various interpretations, which are non‐unique. Further, although global energetics provide a constraint on the flow evolution, in the context of the kinetic energy equation they conceal important aspects of energy generation and consumption, a finding which highlights the limitations of a global kinetic energy budget in revealing the underlying dynamics of tropical cyclones.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1002/qj.3332
Entities
People
- Gerard Kilroy
- Michael T. Montgomery
- Roger K. Smith
Organizations
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Science Foundation
- Naval Postgraduate School
- Office of Naval Research
- Office of Naval Research Global