An idealized, three‐dimensional, 1 km horizontal grid spacing numerical simulation of a rapidly intensifying tropical cyclone is used to extend basic knowledge on the role of mean and eddy momentum transfer on the dynamics of the intensification process. Examination of terms in the tangential and radial velocity tendency equations provides an improved quantitative understanding of the dynamics of the spin‐up process within the inner‐core boundary layer and eyewall regions of the system‐scale vortex. Unbalanced and non‐axisymmetric processes are prominent features of the rapid spin‐up process. In particular, the wind asymmetries, associated in part with the asymmetric deep convection, make a substantive contribution (
We present idealized, three‐dimensional, convection‐permitting numerical experiments to evaluate the premise of the revised theory of tropical cyclone intensification proposed by Emanuel, . The premise is that small‐scale turbulence in the upper tropospheric outflow layer determines the thermal stratification of the outflow and, in turn, an amplification of the system‐scale tangential wind field above the boundary layer. The aim of our article is to test whether parametrized small‐scale turbulence in the outflow region of a developing storm is an essential process in the spin‐up of the maximum tangential winds.
Compared with the control experiment, in which the small‐scale, shear‐stratified turbulence is parametrized in the usual way based on a Richardson number criterion, the vortex in a calculation without a parametrized representation of vertical mixing above the boundary layer has similar evolution of intensity. Richardson number near‐criticality is found mainly in the upper‐level outflow. However, the present solutions indicate that eddy processes in the eyewall play a significant role in determining the structure of moist entropy surfaces in the upper‐level outflow. In the three‐dimensional model, these eddy processes are largely realizations of asymmetric deep convection and are not obviously governed by any Richardson‐number‐based criterion. The experiments do not support the premise on which the new theory is based. The results would appear to have ramifications for recent studies that invoke the new theory.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10374755
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
- Volume:
- 145
- Issue:
- 721
- ISSN:
- 0035-9009
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 1309-1322
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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