Re: Great Warm-Core Inversion with Anti-Cyclone Overhead
Posted by JAC on 6/26/2009, 12:15 pm
In both graphs, the left axis is where AMSU analysis places the Center-of-Circulation (COC).  The horizontal axis is the distance from the COC.  Altitude is plotted on the vertical axis.

I am waiting on CIMSS to show an actual long & t of where AMSU places the COC.  I'll post that when it comes up.

The first graph comes from microwave soundings and plots temperature difference relative to the surrounding atmosphere as a function of altitude and distance from the COC.

A TC has a well defined temperature core-structure.  Dr Gray did a lot of pioneering work on this and I'll try and cite some papers later.

Anywho, a core that has temps below ambient at low altitudes and temps above ambient at mid altitudes is by definition an inversion and shows the health of a TC.  That inversion is what a TC needs to develop and strenghten.  If the inversion is lacking and the mid-level warm-core temps are low, it has a hard time.

The other sign of health of a TC is if it can vent to the UL atmosphere (tropopause).

That is shown in the second graph.  Here wind speed and direction are plotted relative to the COC and as a function of distance and altitude.  Solid lines indicate cyclonic flow around the COC and dashed lines indicate anti-cyclonic flow around the COC.  You want to see an anti-cyclone in the high altitudes for the TC to vent well.  The numbers on each line indicate the realtive wind speed to the COC.










32
In this thread:
Models on a possible GOM System next week - JAC, 6/26/2009, 8:02 am
< Return to the front page of the: message board | monthly archive this page is in
Post A Reply
This thread has been archived and can no longer receive replies.