A case study of the formation of an Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone
Name
43876804-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
8.07 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
3d546307719320919ec061c382669cf7
Author(s)
Kung, Terence, 1974-
Advisor(s)
Kerry A. Emanuel.
Alternative Title
case study of the formation of an Eastern Pacific hurricane
Date Issued
1999
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
A case study is performed to investigate the nature of tropical cyclogenesis in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Focus is given to the formation and development of the initial circulation which eventually intensified into Hurricane Fefa. Using satellite imagery, the author studies the development of convective activity in the genesis region. Gridded reanalysis data are used to document the synoptic-scale flow, with emphasis on tracing the easterly wave which is associated with the formation of Fefa. The data show that the easterly wave propagated across the Caribbean Sea and the Central American mountains, and the initial circulation developed while the wave had moved into the eastern Pacific. The wave is found to have moved through an unstable basic state while it was in the Caribbean, which is favorble for its growth and maintenance. Two phenomena are observed prior to the formation of the low-level circulation. These include an easterly jet in the eastern Pacific that may have been associated with the blocking effect of the Central American mountains, and a southerly wind surge into the monsoon trough region. In addition, aircraft observations collected during Tropical Experiment in Mexico are used to study the evolution of the mesoscale system. Initially, a circulation in the middle troposphere with a cold core in the boundary layer, and a shear line located to the west were found. One day later, a low-level warm core vortex had developed, and it was displaced from the mid-level vortex. It is suggested that the low-level vortex formed from the spin-up of the monsoon trough, independent of the mid-level vortex.
Description
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1999.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-79).
Subjects
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
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