Cross-Equatorial Influences of a South American Cold Surge on the Development of Two Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones
Abstract
Considerable research has been conducted on the environmental conditions necessary for tropical cyclone genesis. Primarily this research has centered around the climatic requirements necessary for development. While genesis parameters are very useful in a climatological sense, it is still difficult to predict the specific location and time of tropical cyclone formation. One approach to understanding this problem is to identify a feature or a synoptic situation that is common in regions of tropical cyclone genesis and conduct an intense diagnostic study to determine how this feature or synoptic situation relates to the development of tropical cyclones. Love (1982) found that about 75% of the 74 genesis events studied (in longitudes 100 E to 180 E) are associated with an equatorward surge of cold air in the opposing hemisphere. Thus, indicating that there appears to be a strong correlation between tropical cyclone genesis and cold surges. This thesis is a case study of such an event. In late May 1979 a severe cold front passed over South America. On the mornings of 31 May and 1 June four states in Brazil experienced the worst freeze since 1975. Simultaneously, two tropical cyclones developed off the west coast of Central America. The only time in recorded history that two cyclones have developed on the same day in May in this region. The objective of this research is to diagnose this case study to determine if the unusually strong South American cold surge was influential in the development of the two eastern North Pacific tropical cyclones. Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA227643
Entities
People
- Vicki A. Millier
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology