An official website of the United States government
Upper-level static stability ( N2) variations can influence the evolution of the transverse circulation and potential vorticity in intensifying tropical cyclones (TCs). This paper examines these variations during the rapid intensification (RI) of a simulated TC. Over the eye, N2near the tropopause decreases and the cold-point tropopause rises by up to 4 km at the storm center. Outside of the eye, N2increases considerably just above the cold-point tropopause and the tropopause remains near its initial level. A budget analysis reveals that the advection terms, which include differential advection of potential temperature θ and direct advection of N2, are important throughout the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. These terms are particularly pronounced within the eye, where they destabilize the layer near and above the cold-point tropopause. Outside of the eye, a radial–vertical circulation develops during RI, with strong outflow below the tropopause and weak inflow above. Differential advection of θ near the outflow jet provides forcing for stabilization below the outflow maximum and destabilization above. Turbulence induced by vertical wind shear on the flanks of the outflow maximum also modifies the vertical stability profile. Meanwhile, radiative cooling tendencies at the top of the cirrus canopy generally act to destabilize the upper troposphere and stabilize the lower stratosphere. The results suggest that turbulence and radiation, alongside differential advection, play fundamental roles in the upper-level N2evolution of TCs. These N2tendencies could have implications for both the TC diurnal cycle and the tropopause-layer potential vorticity evolution in TCs.
more »
« less
Turbulence Variations in the Upper Troposphere in Tropical Cyclones from NOAA G-IV Flight-Level Vertical Acceleration Data
The NOAA G-IV aircraft routinely measures vertical aircraft acceleration from the inertial navigation system at 1 Hz. The data provide a measure of turbulence on a 250-m horizontal scale over a layer from 12.8- to 14.8-km elevation. Turbulence in this layer of tropical cyclones was largest by 35%–40% in the inner 200 km of radius and decreased monotonically outward to the 1000-km radius. Turbulence in major hurricanes exceeded that in weaker tropical cyclones. Turbulence data points were divided among three regions of the tropical cyclone: cirrus canopy; outside the cirrus canopy; and a transition zone between them. Without exception, turbulence was greater within the canopy and weaker outside the canopy. Nighttime turbulence exceeded daytime turbulence for all radii, especially within the cirrus canopy, implicating radiative forcing as a factor in turbulence generation. A case study of widespread turbulence in Hurricane Ivan (2004) showed that interactions between the hurricane outflow channel and westerlies to the north created a region of absolute vorticity of −6 × 10−5s−1in the upper troposphere. Outflow accelerated from the storm center into this inertially unstable region, and visible evidence for turbulence and transverse bands of cirrus appeared radially inward of the inertially unstable region. It is argued that both cloud-radiative forcing and the development of inertial instability within a narrow outflow layer were responsible for the turbulence. In contrast, a second case study (Isabel 2003) displayed strong near-core turbulence in the presence of large positive absolute vorticity and no local inertial instability. Peak turbulence occurred 100 km downwind of the eyewall convection.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1636799
- PAR ID:
- 10087722
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Meteorological Society
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
- Volume:
- 58
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 1558-8424
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 569-583
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract The properties of diurnal variability in tropical cyclones (TCs) and the mechanisms behind them remain an intriguing aspect of TC research. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of diurnal variability in two simulations of TCs to explore these mechanisms. One simulation is a well-known Hurricane Nature Run (HNR1), which is a realistic simulation of a TC produced using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The other simulation is a realistic simulation produced using WRF of Hurricane Florence (2018) using hourly ERA5 data as input. Empirical orthogonal functions and Fourier filtering are used to analyze diurnal variability in the TCs. In both simulations a diurnal squall forms at sunrise in the inner core and propagates radially outward and intensifies until midday. At midday the upper-level outflow strengthens, surface inflow weakens, and the cirrus canopy reaches its maximum height and radial extent. At sunset and overnight, the surface inflow is stronger, and convection inside the RMW peaks. Therefore, two diurnal cycles of convection exist in the TCs with different phases of maxima: eyewall convection at sunset and at night, and rainband convection in the early morning. This study finds that the diurnal pulse in the cirrus canopy is not advectively driven, nor can it be attributed to weaker inertial stability at night; rather, the results indicate direct solar heating as a mechanism for cirrus canopy lifting and enhanced daytime outflow. These results show a strong diurnal modulation of tropical cyclone structure, and are consistent with other recent observational and modeling studies of the TC diurnal cycle.more » « less
-
Abstract Accurate prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity remains a significant challenge partially due to physics deficiencies in forecast models. Improvement of boundary layer physics in the turbulent “gray zone” requires a better understanding of spatiotemporal variations of turbulent properties in low-level high-wind regions. To fill the gap, this study utilizes Anduril’s Altius 600, a small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS), that collected data in the eye and eyewall regions of category 5 Hurricane Ian (2022) at altitudes below 1.4 km. The highest observed wind speed (WSPD) exceeded 105 m s−1at 650-m altitude. The Altius measured turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and momentum fluxes that were in good agreement with previous crewed aircraft observations. This study explores the scale-awareness turbulent structure by quantifying turbulence-scale (100 m–2 km) and mesoscale (2–10 km) contributions to the total flux and TKE. The results show that mesoscale eddies dominate the horizontal wind variances compared to turbulent eddies. The horizontal wind variances contribute 70%–90% of the total TKE, while the vertical wind variances contribute 10%–30% of the total TKE. Spectral and wavelet analyses demonstrate eddy scales from a few hundred meters up to 10 km, with unique distributions depending on where observations were taken (e.g., eye vs eyewall). These findings underscore the complex and multiscale nature of TKE and momentum fluxes in intense hurricanes and highlight the critical need for advanced observational tools within the high-wind hurricane boundary layer environment. Significance StatementIt is crucial to improve the understanding of turbulent processes in the low-level high-wind regions of tropical cyclones (TCs) for accurate intensity forecasts. Traditional data collection methods involving crewed aircraft are too risky to access these critical regions. This study demonstrates the use of a small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS) to collect data at low levels within an intense Hurricane Ian (2022). The wind speed measured by the sUAS exceeded 105 m s−1. Important turbulence parameters are estimated and presented as a function of wind speed, height, and radial locations. We found that mesoscale (2–10 km) eddies contributed to a significant portion of the total momentum transfer relative to turbulence-scale (100 m–2 km) eddies. This work demonstrates the usefulness of sUASs for improving the basic understanding of key physical processes in the high-wind hurricane boundary layer.more » « less
-
Abstract The diurnal cycle (DC) in the cirrus canopy of tropical cyclones (TCs) is a well-documented phenomenon. While early studies linked the DC in the area of the cirrus canopy to a DC in the strength of eyewall convection, later studies considered it a direct response to the DC of radiation in the cirrus canopy. In this study, an idealized linear model is used to examine the extent to which linear dynamics can capture the DC in TCs, in particular the transition between balanced and radiating responses to diurnal heating. The model heat forcing is physically motivated by the diabatic heating output from a realistic simulation, which illustrates the presence of a DC in moist convective heating and radiative heating in the eyewall, and a DC in radiative heating in the cirrus canopy. This study finds that the DCs of heating in the eyewall yield a response that is restricted to inside the RMW by the high inertial stability in the inner core. The DC of radiative heating in the cirrus canopy yields a response throughout the entire cyclone. Lower-frequency responses, of diurnal and semidiurnal frequency, are balanced throughout much of the cyclone. High-frequency waves with periods under 8 h, created at sunrise and sunset, can radiate outward and downward. These results indicate that diurnal responses are balanced in the majority of a TC and originate in the cirrus canopy, instead of the eyewall. The DC in cirrus canopy vertical motion also appears to originate in the cirrus canopy.more » « less
-
Abstract On 10 August 2020, a derecho caused widespread damage across Iowa and Illinois. Des Moines station data show that the arrival of the gust front was characterized by an abrupt shift to northerly flow, exceeding 22 m s−1for ∼20 min. To test the hypothesis that this northerly jet is associated with a horizontal potential vorticity (PV) dipole in the lower troposphere, we investigated the structure of PV in the University of Wisconsin Nonhydrostatic Modeling System (UWNMS) and of absolute vorticity in High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) forecast analyses. This structure is described here for the first time. The negative PV member coincides with the downdraft, while the positive PV member coincides with the updraft, with a northerly jet between. The westerly inflow jet descends anticyclonically in the downdraft, joining with northerly flow from the surface anticyclone. The resulting northerly outflow jet creates the trailing comma-shaped radar echo. The speed of propagation of the derecho is similar to the westerly wind maximum in the 3–5-km layer associated with the approaching synoptic cyclone, which acts as a steering level for resonant amplification. Idealized diagrams and 3D isosurfaces illustrate the commonality of the PV dipole/northerly jet structure. Differences in this structure among the three model states are related to low-level wind shear theory. The PV dipole coincides with the pattern of diabatic stretching tendency, which shifts westward and downward relative to the updraft/downdraft with increasing tilt. The PV dipole can contribute toward dynamical stability in a derecho. Significance StatementThe purpose of this work is to investigate the structure of potential vorticity (PV) in the lower troposphere in a derecho. It is found that a northerly outflow jet occurs between an east–west-oriented horizontal PV dipole, which is described here for the first time. The negative PV member coincides with the downdraft and is inertially unstable, while the positive PV member coincides with the updraft. This work contributes toward the theory of resonant structures and longevity. The 3–5-km westerly inflow layer constitutes a steering level, which controls propagation speed despite differences in structure. The degree of westward tilt with height is related to the pattern of forcing by diabatic stretching in producing the PV dipole.more » « less
