Intensification and structure change of super Typhoon Flo as related to the large-scale environment
By:  David W. Titley
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 368
Description: A Multi-Quadric (MQ) analysis is developed and compared with the four-dimensional data assimilation analyses of the structure of Typhoons Flo and Ed during the Tropical Cyclone Motion (TCM-90) field experiment. The MQ analysis has been shown to provide an alternate, plausible depiction of the tropical atmosphere. These analyses are used to compare physical processes leading to rapid intensification of Flo, but not of Ed. Significant documentations include: (1) the existence of a cyclonic wind burst extending beyond 1000 km radius at 200 mb during the forcing phase for Typhoon Flo, which appears to be the result of strong, sustained eddy flux convergence of angular momentum (EFC) in the upper troposphere; (2) a complex EFC vertical structure that evolved with time; (3) Flo had developed a warmer core near the tropopause, and was less stable than Ed in the upper troposphere prior to the beginning of the rapid intensification period; (4) a high correlation of the mid-troposphere azimuthally-averaged absolute vorticity with the 48-h future intensity of four tropical cyclones; and (5) the 850 - 200 mb vertical wind shear for Typhoon Ed was less than the vertical shear calculated for Typhoon Flo, which implies that low vertical shear, although necessary for significant storm development is not, by itself, a sufficient dynamic factor to ensure rapid intensification. A conceptual model is proposed for tropical cyclone rapid intensification and subsequent weakening that accounts for varying EFC and vertical shear values. Although based on Typhoon Ed and Flo, this model is also consistent with intensity changes of Typhoons Yancy and Zola.
Notes: "June 1998."

Dissertation supervisor(s): Russell L. Elsberry.

Author(s) subject terms: Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Objective Analysis Method, Multi-Quadric Analysis.

DTIC Descriptor(s): Tropical Regions, Atmospheres, Eddy Currents, Tropical Cyclones, Data Processing, Environments, Models, Dynamics, Flux(Rate), Field Tests, Intensity, Theses, Eddies(Fluid Mechanics), Atmospheric Motion, Vertical Orientation, Storms, Wind Shear, Convergence, Value, Assimilation, Troposphere, Angular Momentum, Tropopause, Typhoons.

Dissertation (Ph.D. in Meteorology) Naval Postgraduate School, June 1998.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 355-365).

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.

US Navy (USN) author.

dk/dk cc:9116 10/06/98.