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Explore Tropical Cyclone internal dynamics, eyewall behavior, and environmental impact. Research conducted using ELDORA radar & dropsondes in the RAINEX project. Innovative model analysis of storm vorticity and intensity changes.
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August- September NSF NOAA NRL NCAR UW UM Shuyi S. Chen Rosenstial School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami Houze et al. (2006, BAMS)
Environment RainbandsInner Core TC Internal Dynmaics and Interaction with Environment • Inner core and rainband internactions • Concentric eyewalls and eyewall replacement cycle • Vertical wind shear • Moisture distribution
RAINEXis the first experiment using three-Doppler-aircraft flying in hurricanes. Approach: • Use airborne Doppler radar to observe both eyewall and rainband internal vorticity structures simultaneously • Use intensive dropsondes for thermodynamic environment of hurricane rainbands and eyewall to support both analysis and modeling/forecasting • Use model to determine how the vorticity features evolve and storm intensitychanges
ELDORA radar RAINEX Flight Coordination
Dropsondes Plan--target dropsondes and Doppler
Hurricanes investigated in RAINEX Katrina Ophelia Rita
High-Resolution Multi-nested Vortex-Following Numerical Models at University of Miami: 15 km • UM/RSMAS Coupled Atmos-Wave-Ocean Model Mini ensemble MM5 and WRF forecasts using GFS, NOGAPS, CMC, and GFDL forecast fields as initial and lateral boundary conditions 5 km 1.6 km
Obs NHC Fcst MM5 (1.6km) WRF (1.6km)
MM5&WRF Global models NHC Fcst Obs
Model forecast of eyewall & rainbandsat 1.6 km resolution Katrina Rita Rain rate
Day Day Katrina Rain Wind Distance from vortex center
Wind Rain Day Rita Rain Distance from vortex center
Concentric Eyewalls RAINEX Flights in Hurricane Rita
Unprecedented Concentric eyewalls in Rita
dBZ Question: How does the “moat form?” ELDORA data show downward motion between the two eyewalls
N43 flight-level wind in Rita Inner outer outer Inner Observed MM5 22 September 2005 Inner Radar Reflectivity outer WRF Eyewall Replacement in Hurricane Rita (2005)
Model Moist Pot. Vorticity ELDORA observations of the outer eyewall:Evidence of “filamentation” Vorticity (10-4 s-1)
(1.6 km) (1.6 km) Katrina Rita
40 50 60 70 Effect of Environmental Humidity TRMM TMI Total Precipitable Water dry humid Katrina Rita Dots represent sample G-IV dropsonde locations
Dropsondes show stronger humidity gradient in eyewall replacement case Storm outer environment Rainbandregion Katrina moist Rita moist Katrina dry Rita dry
Conceptual Model of How Moisture Gradient Affecting to Rainband Organizations Weak Gradient in Katrina Strong Gradient in Rita Moist Dry
Effect of vertical wind shear on Rita Model 5-day forecast
Katrina Ophelia Rita CONCLUSIONS Three important storms observed Innovative satellite based flight control First use of ELDORA in hurricanes Data available via NCAR field catalog Operations and data analysis aided by high-resolution modeling
CONCLUSIONS Eyewall replacement--formation of “moat” documented Strong humidity gradient may favor concentric eyewalls ELDORA confirms internal structure of rainband ELDORA shows filamentation of vorticity in secondary eyewall Formation of storm rotation in the convective burst phase Dry air intrusion at midlevels