Rapid Filamentation Zones in Intense Tropical Cyclones

• DOI: 10.1175/jas3595.1
• Publication Date: 2006-01-31T15:54:48Z
• Authors: Christopher M. Ro...; Wayne H. Schubert; Brian D. McNoldy; James P. Kossin
• Keywords: Filamentation; Eye

Abstract Intense tropical cyclones often possess relatively little convection around their cores. In radar composites, this surrounding region is usually echo-free or contains light stratiform precipitation. While subsidence typically quite pronounced in region, it not the only mechanism suppressing convection. Another possible leading to weak-echo moats presented paper. The basic idea that strain-dominated flow an intense vortex core creates unfavorable environment for sustained deep, moist Strain-dominated regions of a cyclone can be distinguished from rotation-dominated by sign S21 + S22 − ζ2, where S1 = ux υy and S2 υx uy are rates strain ζ relative vorticity. Within radius maximum tangential wind, tends (ζ2 > S22), so coherent structures, such as mesovortices, survive long periods time. Outside (S21 ζ2), resulting filaments anomalous filamentation time defined τfil 2(S21 ζ2)−1/2. cyclone, approximately 30-km-wide annular exist just outside less than 30 min even small 5 min. This rapid zone. Since scale deep convective overturning min, significantly distorted suppressed A nondivergent barotropic model illustrates effects zones category 1–5 hurricanes demonstrates evolution during binary interaction mesovortex formation thin ring enhanced