Essential Dynamics of Secondary Eyewall Formation
Abstract
The authors conduct an analysis of the dynamics of secondary eyewall formation in two modeling frameworks to obtain a more complete understanding of the phenomenon. The first is a full-physics, three-dimensional mesoscale model in which the authors examine an idealized hurricane simulation that undergoes a canonical eyewall replacement cycle. Analysis of the mesoscale simulation shows that secondary eyewall formation occurs in a conditionally unstable environment, questioning the applicability of moist-neutral viewpoints and related mathematical formulations thereto for studying this process of tropical cyclone intensity change. The analysis offers also new evidence in support of a recent hypothesis that secondary eyewalls form via a progressive boundary layer control of the vortex dynamics in response to a radial broadening of the tangential wind field.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA587320
Entities
People
- Michael T. Montgomery
- Sergio F. Abarca
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School