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The Hurricane Life Cycle . Mark DeMaria NOAA/NESDIS Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch Hurricanes: Science and Society Webinar February 28, 2012. Three Stages of the Hurricane Lifecycle . Genesis F ormation from a tropical disturbance Development
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The Hurricane Life Cycle Mark DeMaria NOAA/NESDIS Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch Hurricanes: Science and Society Webinar February 28, 2012
Three Stages of the Hurricane Lifecycle • Genesis • Formation from a tropical disturbance • Development • Organization and increase in maximum wind • Decay • Decrease in maximum wind • Dissipation
Composite Satellite Imagery of the Life Cycle of Hurricane Frances (2004)
Conditions Needed for Tropical Cyclone Formation • Warm sea surface temperature • Greater than ~ 26.5oC (80oF) • Non-zero Coriolis force • Off the equator • Pre-existing disturbance • Tropical wave • Frontal boundary • Low vertical wind shear • Atmospheric temperature and moisture profile that supports thunderstorms
IR Imagery of the Formation of Hurricane Rina from a Tropical Wave
Tropical Cyclone Decay Stage • Three Mechanisms for Dissipation • Movement over land • Movement over cold water • Movement into region with high wind shear and dry atmosphere • Other scenario • Transition to mid-latitude cyclone • Alternate energy source from pre-existing temperature gradients • Transition from warm core to cold core
Summary • Hurricane Lifecycle includes three stages • Genesis • Development • Decay • Formation requires several special conditions to occur simultaneously • Development stage involves positive feedback with energy exchange with the ocean • Decay can occur due to movement over land, cold water or in atmospheric regions not conducive to thunderstorms near the storm center