On Sea Surface Roughness Parameterization and Its Effect on Tropical Cyclone Structure and Intensity

A new parameterization scheme of sea surface momentum roughness length for all wind regimes, including high winds, under tropical cyclone （TC） conditions is constructed based on measurements from Global Positioning System （GPS） dropsonde. It reproduces the observed regime transition, namely, an increase of the drag coefficient with an increase in wind speed up to 40 m s-1 , followed by a decrease with a further increase in wind speed. The effect of this parameterization on the structure and intensity of TCs is evaluated using a newly developed numerical model, TCM4. The results show that the final intensity is increased by 10.5% （8.9%） in the maximum surface wind speed and by 8.1 hPa （5.9 hPa） in the minimum sea surface pressure drop with （without） dissipative heating. This intensity increase is found to be due mainly to the reduced frictional dissipation in the surface layer and little to do with either the surface enthalpy flux or latent heat release in the eyewall convection. The effect of the new parameterization on the storm structure is found to be insignificant and occurs only in the inner core region with the increase in tangential winds in the eyewall and the increase in temperature anomalies in the eye. This is because the difference in drag coefficient appears only in a small area under the eyewall. Implications of the results are briefly discussed.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF POYANG LAKE'S INFLUENCE ON TROPICAL CYCLONES

Based on the Tropical Cyclone(TC briefly thereafter)Yearbook 1980-2009,this paper first analyzes the number and intensity change of the TCs which passed directly over or by the side of Poyang Lake(the distance of TC center is less than 1°longitude or 1°latitude from the Lake)among all the landfalling TCs in China during the past 30 years.Two cases are examined in detail in this paper.One is severe typhoon Rananim with a speed of 3.26 m/s and a change of 1 hPa in intensity when it was passing the Lake.The other is super typhoon Saomai with a faster moving speed of 6.50 m/s and a larger change in intensity of 6 hPa.Through numerical simulation experiments,this paper analyzes how the change of underlying surface from water to land contributes to the differences in intensity,speed and mesoscale convection of the two TCs when they passed the Lake.Results show that the moisture and dynamic condition above the Lake were favorable for the maintenance of the intensity when Rananim was passing through Poyang Lake,despite the moisture supply from the ocean was cut off.As a result,there was strong convection around the lake which led to a rainfall spinning counter-clockwise as it was affected by the TC movement.However,little impact was seen in the Saomai case.These results indicate that for the TCs coming ashore on Poyang Lake with a slow speed,the large water body is conducive to the sustaining of the intensity and strengthening of the convection around the TC center and the subsequent heavy rainfall.On the contrary,a fast-moving TC is less likely to be influenced by the underlying surface in terms of intensity and speed.

The Uncertainty of Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Structure Based on Different Parameterization Schemes of Planetary Boundary Layer

Based on different parameterization schemes of planetary boundary layer (PBL), the uncertainty of intensity and structure of the Super-strong Typhoon Rammasun (1409) is investigated using the WRF model (v3.4) with six PBL parameterization schemes. Results indicate that PBL uncertainty leads to the uncertainty in tropical cyclone (TC)prediction, which increases with forecast time. The uncertainty in TC prediction is mainly reflected in the uncertainty in TC intensity, with significant differences in the TC intensity forecasts using various PBL schemes. The uncertainty in TC prediction is also reflected in the uncertainty in TC structures. Greater intensity is accompanied by smaller vortex width,tighter vortex structure, stronger wind in the near-surface layer and middle and lower troposphere, stronger inflow(outflow) wind at the lower (upper) levels, stronger vertical upward wind, smaller thickness of the eye wall, smaller outward extension of the eye wall, and warmer warm core at the upper levels of eye. PBL height, surface upward heat flux and water vapor flux are important factors that cause the uncertainty in TC intensity and structure. The more surface upward heat flux and water vapor flux and the lower PBL height, the faster TC development and the stronger TC intensity.

THE STRUCTURE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE BY TOVS AND ITS APPLICATION IN NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION

The TOVS data are used to study the structure of a number of tropical cyclones for the year 2000. Differences are found to some extent between what is found and classic conceptual models in that (1) the horizontal structure is asymmetric and variable so that the low-value centers at low levels of the geopotential height field (or the high-value centers at high levels) do not necessarily coincide with the high-value centers of the temperature field; (2) the vertical structure is also variable in the allocation of the anomalies of the geopotential height field between low values at low levels and high values at high levels. It is especially noted that the centers of the anomalies are tilting at both high and low levels or the high level is only at the edge of a high-pressure zone. There is not any significant high-value anomalous center in a corresponding location with the tropical cyclone. The structure of tropical cyclone in the TOVS is also used as reference to modify the structure of typhoon BOGUS in the numerical prediction model system of tropical cyclones. It is found that the modified BOGUS performs better in coordinating with the environment and predicting the track of the tropical cyclone. The demonstration is two-fold the structure of the typhoon BOGUS is such that it means much in the track prediction and the use of the TOVS-based tropical cyclone structure really helps in improving it. It provides the foundation for modification and evolution of typhoon BOGUS.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF SUMMER TROPICAL CYCLONE REMOTE PRECIPITATION EVENTS IN EAST ASIA FROM 2000 TO 2009 AND NUMERICAL SIMULATION

Using 1°×1° final analysis(FNL) data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP),precipitation data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission(TRMM) and the best-track tropical cyclone(TC)dataset provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA) for June-August of 2000-2009, we comprehensively consider the two factors low-level moisture channel and interaction between TCs and mid-latitude systems and implement a statistical analysis of remote precipitation in East Asia to the north of 0° and to the west of 150° E. 48 cases of remote precipitation occurred in this period, which are categorized into five classes. After a composite analysis of the different classes, the main systems at 850 h Pa and 500 h Pa that impact the remote precipitation are as follows:TC, mid-latitude trough, subtropical high and water vapor channel. In particular, the water vapor channel which usually connects with Indian monsoon has the most significant impact on remote heavy rainfall. Another important factor is the mid-latitude trough. The type of north trough/vortex-south TC remote precipitation events happen most frequently,accounting for 68.8% of the total incidence. Most remote precipitation events occur on the right side of the TC path(representing 71% of the total number). At 200 h Pa, the remote precipitation events usually occur on the right rear portion of a high-altitude jet stream, and there is an anti-cyclonic vortex to the east and west of the TCs. When there is no anti-cyclonic vortex to the east of the TC, the TC is relatively weak. When the remote precipitation occurs to the northwest of the TC and there is a trough in the northwest direction, the TC is relatively strong. Numerical experiments are carried out using Weather Research and Forecast(WRF) model. The results shows that the TC plays a main role in producing the heavy precipitation and results in the enhancement of precipitation by impacting the water vapor channel.

A METHOD OF INITIAL VORTEX RELOCATION AND NUMERICAL SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS ON TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACK

Using the technique of smooth filtering and cylindrical filtering,the initial vortex circulation and large-scale environmental field were separated from the background field.Then the separated initial vortex circulation was translated and reinserted in the location where it was observed.This led to the determination of a method of initial vortex relocation.For seven tropical cyclones at 23 points of measurement time in the years of 2006 and 2007,two schemes,either directly adding a tropical cyclone bogus model in the background or adding it after the relocation of the initial vortex in the background field,were employed.Simulation experiments were compared.The results showed that the mean errors of the simulated tropical cyclone tracks at 24 and 48 hours were both smaller with the scheme of adding tropical cyclone bogus model after the relocation of the initial vortex in the background field.The relocation method of the initial vortex decreases the error caused by the deviation of the initial tropical cyclone location in tropical cyclone models.The relocation method is conducive to improving the track forecast of tropical cyclone models and has a good perspective for operational application.

IMPACT OF SEA SPRAY ON TROPICAL CYCLONE STRUCTURE AND INTENSITY CHANGE

In this paper,the effects of sea spray on tropical cyclone(TC)structure and intensity variation are evaluated through numerical simulations using an advanced sea-spray parameterization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Earth System Research Laboratory(NOAA/ESRL),which is incorporated in the idealized Advanced Research version of the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF-ARW)model.The effect of sea spray on TC boundary-layer structure is also analyzed.The results show that there is a significant increase in TC intensity when its boundary-layer wind includes the radial and tangential winds,their structure change,and the total surface wind speed change.Diagnosis of the vorticity budget shows that an increase of convergence in TC boundary layer enhances TC vorticity due to the dynamic effect of sea spay.The main kinematic effect of the friction velocity reduction by sea spray produces an increment of large-scale convergence in the TC boundary layer,while the radial and tangential winds significantly increase with an increment of the horizontal gradient maximum of the radial wind, resulting in a final increase in the simulated TC intensity.The surface enthalpy flux enlarges TC intensity and reduces storm structure change to some degree,which results in a secondary thermodynamic impact on TC intensification.Implications of the new interpretation of sea-spray effects on TC intensification are also discussed.

Modulation of the Wind Field Structure of Initial Vortex on the Relationship between Tropical Cyclone Size and Intensity

This study investigates the modulation of initial wind field structure on the relationship between the size and intensity of a simulated vortex.A series of idealized experiments are conducted by varying the radius of maximum wind(RMW)and shape parameter of the initial vortices.The size–intensity relationship is quantified by the linear regression coefficient of the azimuthally-averaged gale-force wind radius against the maximum wind during the development stage,reflecting the degree of size expansion at the same intensity increment.The regression coefficient increases with increased RMW and decreased,with the RMW being the primary constraint.The effect of lowering on the elevation of the regression coefficient gradually stands out when the initial RMW is large.Enlarging the RMW leads to a secondary circulation with a horizontally elongated structure,which retards the intensification while promoting size expansion,thus substantially enhancing size expansion as the vortex intensifies.Broadening the wind field outside the RMW by reducing results in abounding convection in the outer region,which promotes size expansion.Based on the axisymmetric tangential wind tendency and Sawyer–Eliassen equations,when the RMW is large,the active convection in the outer region can weaken the radial inflow induced by the eyewall heating in the inner region,thus retarding the intensification by reducing the radial imports of vorticity near the RMW.

A SIMULATION STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF LAND FRICTION ON LANDFALL TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACK AND INTENSITY

A quasi-geostrophic barotropic vorticity equation model is used to simulate the influences of topographic forcing and land friction on landfall tropical cyclone track and intensity. The simulation results show that tropical cyclone track may have sudden deflection when the action of topographic friction dissipation is considered, and sudden deflection of the track is easy to happen and sudden change of tropical cyclone intensity is not clear when the intensity of tropical cyclone is weak and the land friction is strong. The land friction may be an important factor that causes sudden deflection of tropical cyclone track around landfall.

Idealized Numerical Simulations of Tropical Cyclone Formation Associated with Monsoon Gyres

Monsoon gyres have been identified as one of the important large-scale circulation patterns associated with tropical cyclone （TC） formation in the western North Pacific.A recent observational analysis indicated that most TCs form near the center of monsoon gyres or at the northeast end of the enhanced low-level southwesterly flows on the southeast-east periphery of monsoon gyres.In the present reported study,idealized numerical experiments were conducted to examine the tropical cyclogenesis associated with Rossby wave energy dispersion with an initial idealized monsoon gyre.The numerical simulations showed that the development of the low-level enhanced southwesterly flows on the southeasteast periphery of monsoon gyres can be induced by Rossby wave energy dispersion.Mesoscale convective systems emerged from the northeast end of the enhanced southwesterly flows with mid-level maximum relative vorticity.The simulated TC formed in the northeast of the monsoon gyre and moved westward towards the center of the monsoon gyre.The numerical experiment with a relatively smaller sized initial monsoon gyre showed the TC forming near the center of the initial monsoon gyre.The results of the present study suggest that Rossby wave energy dispersion can play an important role in TC formation in the presence of monsoon gyres.

The Role of β-effect and a Uniform Current on Tropical Cyclone Intensity

A limited-area primitive equation model is used to study the role of the β-effect and a uniform current on tropical cyclone (TC) intensity. It is found that TC intensity is reduced in a non-quiescent environment compared with the case of no uniform current. On an f-plane, the rate of intensification of a tropical cyclone is larger than that of the uniform flow. A TC on a β-plane intensifies slower than one on an f-plane. The main physical characteristic that distinguishes the experiments is the asymmetric thermodynamic (including convective) and dynamic structures present when either a uniform flow or β-effect is introduced. But a fairly symmetric TC structure is simulated on an f-plane. The magnitude of the warm core and the associated subsidence are found to be responsible for such simulated intensity changes. On an f-plane, the convection tends to be symmetric, which results in strong upper-level convergence near the center and hence strong forced subsidence and a very warm core. On the other hand, horizontal advection of temperature cancels part of the adiabatic heating and results in less warming of the core, and hence the TC is not as intense. This advective process is due to the tilt of the vortex as a result of the β-effect. A similar situation occurs in the presence of a uniform flow. Thus, the asymmetric horizontal advection of temperature plays an important role in the temperature distribution. Dynamically, the asymmetric angular momentum (AM) flux is very small on an f-plane throughout the troposphere. However, the total AM exports at the upper levels for a TC either on a β-plane or with a uniform flow environment are larger because of an increase of the asymmetric as well as symmetric AM export on the plane at radii >450 km, and hence there is a lesser intensification.

Structural Changes of a Tropical Cyclone during Landfall: β-plane Simulations

This study investigated the effects of landfall on the structure of a tropical cyclone （TC）. Numerical simulations were performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model on a β-plane. Two landfall experiments, one with an east–west and another with a north–south oriented coastline, were performed. Similar to previous studies on an f-plane, large-scale flows in the low-to-middle troposphere were modified due to friction. A pair of counter rotating gyres was found, which was shown to be consistent with the slight deffection of the TC relative to the control experiment without land. Compared to previous f-plane simulations, because of the inherent asymmetries due to the β-gyres, the large-scale pattern of flows and convergences/divergences related to friction were found to depend on coastline orientations. On the other hand, regardless of the coastline orientation, convergences were found to be stronger to the left for both cases near landfall, as in previous f-plane simulations. Such a convergence pattern subsequently induced a change in convection and rainfall at the eyewall.

ASYMMETRICAL STRUCTURES OF THE TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY OF TROPICAL CYCLONES

Based on NCEP/CFSR 0.5° reanalysis data and the best track data from the Japan Tokyo Typhoon Center,composite and comparative analyses demonstrate the asymmetrical structures of the temperature and humidity in tropical cyclones over the Western North Pacific and the South China Sea from 1979 to 2010.The results are shown as follows.(1) With intensifying tropical cyclones,the flow field tends to become gradually more axisymmetric;however,the asymmetry of the specific humidity in the outer regions is more obvious.(2) In general,tropical cyclones have a non-uniform,vertical, "double warm-core" structure.The "warm-cores" in the lower level of weak tropical cyclones and in the higher level of strong tropical cyclones are the stronger of the two.(3) The distribution area of a "warm-core" is enhanced with cyclone intensification and tends to become more axisymmetric.At 200 hPa,the "warm-core" of a weak cyclone has a weak anticyclone in the center,whereas that of a strong cyclone has a weak cyclone in the center.(4)The "wet-core" of a tropical cyclone is primarily located in the lower level(700-850 hPa).With the cyclone's intensification,the intensity of the "wet-core" increases and the scope of the 0.8 g kg^(-1) specific humidity anomaly tends to expand to higher levels.(5) With the cyclone's deepening,the pseudo-equivalent potential temperature at different levels in different regions increases.In addition,the largest warming rates at each intensity level in the different regions occur in the core area,followed in turn by the envelope and outer areas.

Vertical Structure of Beta Gyres and Its Effect on Tropical Cyclone Motion

Recently, Fiorino and Elsberry (1989) proposed a concept on beta gyres using a numerical model in a quasi-geostrophic barotropic framework, and analysed the horizontal structure. In this paper, the authors extend the findings of Fiorino et al. to a baroclinic atmosphere applying a quasi-geostrophic, three-layer model, and analyse the horizontal and vertical structures of beta gyres and their relation to tropical cyclone motion.

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF β-GYRES IN TROPICAL CYCLONES

The circulation of β-gyres in tropical cyclones is studied using numerical simulations. As shown in the result, there is clear circulation of β-gyres in the deviation flow field of the middle layer of the model,i.e. there is cyclone current west of the vortex center but anticyclone current east of it. The theory analysis shows that the circulation of β-gyres is formed by the advection of geostrophic vorticity.

Impact of Surface Exchange Coefficients and Sea Surface Cooling on Tropical Cyclone Simulation

The surface flux exchange associated with the exchange coefficients and upper ocean conditions is essential to the development of tropical cyclones(TCs).Using the Weather Research and Forecasting(WRF)model,the present study has investigated the impact of exchange coefficients and ocean coupling during Super Typhoon Saomai(2006).Firstly,two experiments with different formula of roughness are conducted.The experiment with the Donelan formula for drag coefficient(C_(d))and ramped formula for enthalpy coefficient(C_(k))can simulate stronger intensity compared to other experiments due to the increased surface wind and enthalpy fluxes.That is because the new formulas allows for a smaller C_(d)and larger C_(k)in the high wind regime than the former formulas did.Moreover,two coupled simulations between WRF and a one-dimensional ocean model are conducted to examine the feedback of sea surface cooling to the TC.In the experiments with a horizontal uniform mixed layer depth of 70 m,the sea surface cooling is too weak to change the evolution of TC.While in the experiment with an input mixed layer calculated using the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model(HYCOM)data,the significant sea surface cooling induces obvious impact on TC intensity and structure.Under the negative feedback of sea surface cooling,the sensible and latent heat fluxes decreases,especially in the right part of Saomai(2006).The negative feedback with coupled ocean model plays a vital role in simulating the intensity and structure of TC.

Results of Numerical Modeling of the Origin of Cyclones and Anticyclones in the Vicinity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone

A review of simulation results, devoted to time-dependent modeling of the initial stage of the formation of large-scale vortices in the troposphere in the vicinity of the intertropical convergence zone, is presented. The simulation results were obtained not long ago with the help of the mathematical model of the neutral wind system of the lower atmosphere, developed earlier in the Polar Geophysical Institute. The utilized mathematical model produces three-dimensional distributions of the atmospheric parameters in the height range from 0 to 15 km over a limited region of the Earth’s surface. Simulation results were obtained for the case when the limited three-dimensional simulation domain, situated at low latitudes, is intersected by an intertropical convergence zone in the west-east direction. The reviewed simulation results were obtained for various initial configurations of the intertropical convergence zone. Results of numerical modeling have indicated that the origin of convexities in the form of the intertropical convergence zone can lead to the formation of different large-scale vortices in the lower atmosphere, in particular, a tropical cyclone, pair of cyclonic vortices, pair of cyclonic-anticyclonic vortexes, and triplet of cyclonic vortices. The simulation results, obtained earlier and presented individually in various editions, are reviewed and summarized in the present paper. A physical mechanism, responsible for the formation of the simulated large-scale vortices in the vicinity of the intertropical convergence zone, is discussed.

CFD numerical simulation of flow velocity characteristics of hydrocyclone

A CFD based numerical simulation of flow velocity of hydrocyclone was conducted with different structural and operational parameters to investigate its distribution characteristics and influencing mechanism. The results show there exist several unsymmetrical envelopes of equal vertical velocities in both upward inner flows and downward outer flows in the hydrocyclone, and the cone angle and apex diameter have remarkable influence on the vertical location of the cone bottom of the envelope of zero vertical velocity. It is also found that the tangential velocity isolines exist in the horizontal planes located in the effective separation region of hydrocyclone. The increase of feed pressure has almost no effect on the distribution characteristics of both vertical velocity and tangential velocity in hydrocyclone, but the magnitude and gradient of tangential velocity are increased obviously to make the motion velocity of high density particles to the wall increased and to make the cyclonic separation effect improved.

Sensitivity of the Simulation of Tropical Cyclone Size to Microphysics Schemes

The sensitivity of the simulation of tropical cyclone （TC） size to microphysics schemes is studied using the Advanced Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model （WRF）. Six TCs during the 2013 western North Pacific typhoon season and three mainstream microphysics schemes-Ferrier （FER）, WRF Single-Moment 5-class （WSM5） and WRF Single-Moment 6-class （WSM6）-are investigated. The results consistently show that the simulated TC track is not sensitive to the choice of microphysics scheme in the early simulation, especially in the open ocean. However, the sensitivity is much greater for TC intensity and inner-core size. The TC intensity and size simulated using the WSM5 and WSM6 schemes are respectively higher and larger than those using the FER scheme in general, which likely results from more diabatic heating being generated outside the eyewall in rainbands. More diabatic heating in rainbands gives higher inflow in the lower troposphere and higher outflow in the upper troposphere, with higher upward motion outside the eyewall. The lower-tropospheric inflow would transport absolute angular momentum inward to spin up tangential wind predominantly near the eyewall, leading to the increment in TC intensity and size （the inner-core size, especially）. In addition, the inclusion of graupel microphysics processes （as in WSM6） may not have a significant impact on the simulation of TC track, intensity and size.

Investigation of Maxima Assumptions in Modelling Tropical Cyclone- Induced Hazards in the South China Sea

The present study aims to examine the suitability of two commonly used assumptions that simplify modelling metoceanconditions for designing offshore wind turbines in the South China Sea (SCS). The first assumption assumes thatjoint N-year extreme wind and wave events can be independently estimated and subsequently combined. The secondone assumes peak wind and waves can be modelled as occurring simultaneously during a tropical cyclone (TC) event.To better understand the potential TC activity, a set of 10000 years synthetic TC events are generated. The wind fieldmodel and the Mike 21 spectral wave model are employed to model the TC-induced hazards. Subsequently, theeffect of the assumptions is evaluated by analyzing the peak structural response of both monopile and semisubmersibleoffshore wind turbines during TC events. The results demonstrate that the examined assumptions are generally accurate.By assessing the implications of these assumptions, valuable insights are obtained, which can inform andimprove the modelling of TC-induced hazards in the SCS region.