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 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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1029/2019gl085980
Entities
People
- Dandan Tao
- Michael M Bell
- Peter Jan Van Leeuwen
- Richard Rotunno
Organizations
- Colorado State University
- National Center for Atmospheric Research
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research