An Investigation of the Role of the Gulf Stream and Its Warm Core Eddies on East Coast Winter Storms

在秋季、冬季和春季的几个月里，大西洋中部各州的沿海风暴发展迅速。这些温带气旋造成大风、大雪、冰雪和海岸风暴潮，造成严重的海滩侵蚀，并造成东海岸严重的财产损失和往往生命损失。以往的研究提高了对东海岸冬季风暴的认识，但也提出了与湾流及其涡旋有关的地面过程在风暴发生中的作用的几个重要问题。本研究的主要目的是探讨墨西哥湾流及其暖核涡对东海岸冬季风暴的影响。这将通过研究湾流位置和形状等因素对冬季东海岸风暴发展的相对作用，以及(2)通过研究高层与地面强迫的相互作用来实现。这一研究结果将有助于加深对东海岸冬季气旋发生或再发展所涉及的地面过程的理解。更好地了解与墨西哥湾流曲折和暖核涡旋有关的这些过程，将为预报员提供额外的工具，并有助于减轻从南卡罗来纳州到马萨诸塞州东部走廊和该地区人口中心与这些风暴有关的灾害。这项研究将涉及NCSU研究生和本科生的研究经验和学习机会，研究结果将在本科生和研究生课堂上讨论。首席研究员是北卡罗来纳州的气候学家，并领导北卡罗来纳州气候办公室，这是一个公共服务/推广中心。调查结果将传递给公众和非技术受众，也将供联邦、州和地方机构用于减灾和应急准备活动。

Rapidly intensifying coastal storms develop along the Mid-Atlantic States during fall, winter and spring months. These extratropical cyclones produce gale force winds, heavy snow, ice, and coastal storm surges with intense beach erosion and are responsible for severe property damage and often loss of lives along the eastern seaboard. Previous studies have improved understanding of the east coast winter storms, but have also raised several important questions on the role of the surface processes related to the Gulf Stream and their eddies on the genesis of these storms.The main objective of this research is to investigate the influence of the Gulf Stream and its warm core eddies on east coast winter storms. This will be achieved (1) by investigating the relative roles of factors such as position and shape of the Gulf Stream on the development of wintertime east coast storms, and (2) by studying the interaction between the upper level and surface forcing.Results from this research will improve the understanding of the surface processes involved in the genesis or redevelopment of east coast winter cyclones. A better understanding of theses processes in relation to the Gulf Stream meander and warm core eddy will provide an additional tool to forecasters and help in the mitigation of disasters associated with these storms in the eastern corridor from South Carolina to Massachusetts and the population centers of this region. This study will involve research experience and learning opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students at NCSU and the research findings will be discussed in undergraduate and graduate classes. The Principal Investigator is the State Climatologist for North Carolina and directs the State Climate Office of North Carolina, a Public Service / Extension center. The findings will be transmitted to the public and non -technical audience, and will also be available for use by federal, state and local agencies for disaster mitigation and emergency preparedness activities.