Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: As a part of the Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification (TCRI) project, we investigated thermodynamic conditions necessary for cyclone intensification. While high sea surface temperature and low tropospheric wind shear are well known environmental factors contributing to storm intensification, they are not sufficient to predict intensification and rapid intensification in particular. To explore thermodynamic factors contributing to intensification, we used dropsondes deployed in pre‐storm and storm environments interpolated on a regular grid via a 3D variational analysis. We find that in mesoscale convective areas an instability index, which measures the stability of the atmosphere to moist convection, and saturation fraction, which measures the moisture content of the atmosphere, show a narrow range of values favorable for intensification, and rapid intensification in particular.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2024gl111263
Authors: Stipo Sentić, Željka Stone, David J. Raymond
Institution: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,900
Funder: Office of Naval Research
Award: G7173247076
OpenAlex ID: W4405704691