scholarly journals Characteristics of Cloud Size of Deep Convection Simulated by a Global Cloud Resolving Model over the Western Tropical Pacific

2008 ◽  
Vol 86A ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiro INOUE ◽  
Masaki SATOH ◽  
Hiroaki MIURA ◽  
Brian MAPES
Keyword(s):  
Deep Convection ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Western Tropical Pacific ◽  
Cloud Resolving Model

Intensification of Tilted Tropical Cyclones Over Relatively Cool and Warm Oceans in Idealized Numerical Simulations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Schecter
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Inner Core ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Surface Wind Speed ◽  
Cloud Resolving Model ◽  
Complete Alignment

Abstract A cloud resolving model is used to examine the intensification of tilted tropical cyclones from depression to hurricane strength over relatively cool and warm oceans under idealized conditions where environmental vertical wind shear has become minimal. Variation of the SST does not substantially change the time-averaged relationship between tilt and the radial length scale of the inner core, or between tilt and the azimuthal distribution of precipitation during the hurricane formation period (HFP). By contrast, for systems having similar structural parameters, the HFP lengthens superlinearly in association with a decline of the precipitation rate as the SST decreases from 30 to 26 °C. In many simulations, hurricane formation progresses from a phase of slow or neutral intensification to fast spinup. The transition to fast spinup occurs after the magnitudes of tilt and convective asymmetry drop below certain SST-dependent levels following an alignment process explained in an earlier paper. For reasons examined herein, the alignment coincides with enhancements of lower–middle tropospheric relative humidity and lower tropospheric CAPE inward of the radius of maximum surface wind speed rm. Such moist-thermodynamic modifications appear to facilitate initiation of the faster mode of intensification, which involves contraction of rm and the characteristic radius of deep convection. The mean transitional values of the tilt magnitude and lower–middle tropospheric relative humidity for SSTs of 28-30 °C are respectively higher and lower than their counterparts at 26 °C. Greater magnitudes of the surface enthalpy flux and core deep-layer CAPE found at the higher SSTs plausibly compensate for less complete alignment and core humidification at the transition time.

Inter-basin and Multi-time Scale Interactions in generating the 2019 Extreme Indian Ocean Dipole

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-39
Author(s):  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Weiqing Han ◽  
Zeng-Zhen Hu
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Indian Ocean Dipole ◽  
Intraseasonal Oscillation ◽  
Tropical Indian Ocean ◽  
Forecast Model ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Indian Ocean Dipole Event ◽  
Easterly Wind ◽  
Western Tropical Pacific

AbstractAn unprecedented extreme positive Indian Ocean Dipole event (pIOD) occurred in 2019, which has caused widespread disastrous impacts on countries bordering the Indian Ocean, including the East African floods and vast bushfires in Australia. Here we investigate the causes for the 2019 pIOD by analyzing multiple observational datasets and performing numerical model experiments. We find that the 2019 pIOD is triggered in May by easterly wind bursts over the tropical Indian Ocean associated with the dry phase of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation, and sustained by the local atmosphere-ocean interaction thereafter. During September-November, warm sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) in the central-western tropical Pacific further enhance the Indian Ocean’s easterly winds, bringing the pIOD to an extreme magnitude. The central-western tropical Pacific warm SSTA is strengthened by two consecutive Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) events that originate from the tropical Indian Ocean. Our results highlight the important roles of cross-basin and cross-timescale interactions in generating extreme IOD events. The lack of accurate representation of these interactions may be the root for a short lead time in predicting this extreme pIOD with a state-of-the-art climate forecast model.

scholarly journals An algorithm for detecting <i>Trichodesmium</i> surface blooms in the South Western Tropical Pacific

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 5653-5689 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Dupouy ◽  
D. Benielli-Gary ◽  
J. Neveux ◽  
Y. Dandonneau ◽  
T. K. Westberry
Keyword(s):  
Total Surface Area ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
The South ◽  
Western Tropical Pacific ◽  
Tropical Oceans ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Monthly Distribution ◽  
C And N ◽  
In Situ Observations

Abstract. Trichodesmium, a major colonial cyanobacterial nitrogen fixer, forms large blooms in NO3-depleted tropical oceans and enhances CO2 sequestration by the ocean due to its ability to fix dissolved dinitrogen. Thus, its importance in C and N cycles requires better estimates of its distribution at basin to global scales. However, existing algorithms to detect them from satellite have not yet been successful in the South Western Tropical Pacific (SWTP). Here, a novel approach based on radiance anomaly spectra (RAS) observed in SeaWiFS imagery is used to detect Trichodesmium during the austral summertime in the SWTP. Selected pixels are characterized by a restricted range of parameters quantifying RAS spectra quantitative parameters (e.g. slope, intercept, curvature). The fraction of valid pixels identified as Trichodesmium surface blooms in the region 5° S–25° S 160° E–190° E is low (between 0.01 and 0.2 %), but is about 100 times higher than suggested by previous algorithms. This represents a total surface area which varies from 1500 to 20 000 km2. A monthly distribution of Trichodesmium surface accumulations in the SWTP is presented which demonstrates that the number of selected pixels peaks in November–February each year, consistent with field observations. This approach was validated with in situ observations of Trichodesmium surface accumulations for the period 1998–2010.

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