Response of a Simulated Hurricane to Misalignment Forcing Compared to the Predictions of a Simple Theory

This paper compares the tilt dynamics of a mature tropical cyclone simulated with a conventional cloud model to reduced modeling results and theoretical predictions. The primary experiment involves a tropical cyclone of hurricane strength on the f plane exposed to a finite period of idealized misalignment forcing. A complementary experiment shows how the vortex responds to the same forcing when moisture and symmetric secondary circulation (SSC) are removed from the initial condition. It is found that the applied forcing excites a much stronger tilt mode in the dry nonconvective vortex than in the moist convective hurricane. The evolution of tilt in both experiments agrees reasonably well with a simple linear response theory that neglects the SSC and assumes moisture merely reduces static stability in the vortex core. An additional experiment with suspended cloud water but no substantial SSC supports the theoretical notion that reduction of static stability is sufficient to inhibit the excitation of a tilt mode. However, there is some discrepancy between theory and details of asymmetric convection in the eyewall region of the simulated hurricane. Moreover, a final experiment without moisture but with an artificially maintained secondary circulation suggests that the SSC has a nonnegligible role in reducing tilt. Diagnosis of the primary hurricane simulation further illustrates how the SSC has discernible influence over misalignment at least in the eyewall. Sensitivity of tilt dynamics to the azimuthally averaged vortex structure is briefly addressed.

Lagrangian mixing in an axisymmetric hurricane model

This paper discusses the extension of established Lagrangian mixing measures to make them applicable to data extracted from a 2-D axisymmetric hurricane simulation. Because of the non-steady and unbounded characteristics of the simulation, the previous measures are extended to a moving frame approach to create time-dependent mixing rates that are dependent upon the initial time of particle integration, and are computed for nonlocal regions. The global measures of mixing derived from finite-time Lyapunov exponents, relative dispersion, and a measured mixing rate are applied to distinct regions representing different characteristic feautures within the model. It is shown that these time-dependent mixing rates exhibit correlations with maximal tangential winds during a quasi-steady state, establishing a connection between mixing and hurricane intensity.

Lagrangian mixing in an axisymmetric hurricane model

This paper discusses the extension of established Lagrangian mixing measures to make them applicable to data extracted from a 2-D axisymmetric hurricane simulation. Because of the non-steady and unbounded characteristics of the simulation, the previous measures are extended to a moving frame approach to create time-dependent mixing rates that are dependent upon the initial time of particle integration, and are computed for nonlocal regions. The global measures of mixing derived from finite-time Lyapunov exponents, relative dispersion, and a measured mixing rate are applied to distinct regions representing different characteristic feautures within the model. It is shown that these time-dependent mixing rates exhibit correlations with maximal tangential winds during a quasi-steady state, establishing a connection between mixing and hurricane intensity.