Mesoscale Air-Sea Coupling in Tropical Cyclones

这项研究的目标是增进对海-气相互作用在改变热带气旋近地表风结构方面的作用的理解。尤其重要的是，当热带气旋掠过美国东海岸和墨西哥湾各州周围的温暖海洋地貌时，要了解这些相互作用的作用。具体的研究目标是：1.开发技术以改进根据现场和雷达测高数据估计的上层海洋热含量。研究温暖海洋特征对大气边界层(ABL)中的表面应力、通量和波的强迫作用，以及海洋混合层(OML)对大气边界层(ABL)反馈的作用。量化温度和盐度的混合和水平平流的作用，包括OML中的质量、热量和盐分收支以及降水对OML的影响。成功地完成这项研究将有助于更好地理解暖高层海洋特征对地面风变化的作用。这可能导致边界层参数化的改善和飓风强度预报的改善。

The goal of this research effort is to improve understanding of the role of air-sea interactions in modifying the near-surface wind structure of tropical cyclones. Of particular importance is to understand the role of these interactions as tropical cyclones pass over warm oceanic features that surround the United States Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico states. Specific research objectives are: 1. Develop techniques to improve estimates of upper ocean heat content from in situ and radar altimetry data.2. Examine the forcing of warm ocean features on surface stresses, fluxes and waves in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and the role of the ocean mixed layer (OML) feedback to the ABL.3. Quantify the roles of mixing and horizontal advection of temperature and salinity, including the mass, heat and salt budgets in the OML and the effects of precipitation on the OML.Successful completion of this research will lead to a better understanding of the role of warm upper oceanic features on surface wind variations. This may lead to improved boundary layer parameterizations and improved hurricane intensity forecasts.