How Cloud Processes Alter the Effects of Midlatitude Cyclones on the Atmospheric General Circulation

云过程如何改变中纬度气旋对大气环流的影响

• 批准号: 1240643
• 负责人: William Rossow
• 金额: $ 66.63万
• 依托单位: CUNY City College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-12-15 至 2015-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1240643&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: How; Cloud; Processes; Alter; Effects

The extratropical cyclones cyclones associated with midlatitude weather systems are typically accompanied by extensive cloud cover, but the extent to which the clouds have an effect on cyclone development is not well known. This project investigates the impact of cloud radiative and latent heating on the development of extratropical cyclones, as well as the amount of energy and moisture they transport poleward. The work uses newly developed datasets in which cloud radiative and latent heating are derived from satellite observations, in combination with meteorological reanalysis products which capture cyclone characteristics including winds, temperature, and humidity. Feature tracking algorithms are used to follow individual cyclones and determine the impact of cloud heating on all stages of the cyclone lifecycle. Previous studies have addressed cloud heating impacts on extratropical cyclones, but with somewhat mixed results, in part due to the lack of available cases on which to base conclusions. The new datasets thus offer the promise of more definitive conclusions, due to the larger number of cases that can be examined, along with improvements in the quality of the cloud heating fields.The work broader impacts in two ways: first, it will support a graduate student, thereby providing for the next generation of scientists in this research area. Second, the work will be beneficial for evaluating and improving weather and climate models.

与中纬度天气系统相关的温带气旋通常伴随着大范围的云层覆盖，但云层对气旋发展的影响程度尚不清楚。该项目研究云辐射和潜热加热对温带气旋发展的影响，以及它们向极地输送的能量和水分的量。 这项工作使用新开发的数据集，其中云辐射和潜热来自卫星观测，并结合捕获风、温度和湿度等气旋特征的气象再分析产品。 特征跟踪算法用于跟踪各个气旋并确定云加热对气旋生命周期所有阶段的影响。先前的研究已经解决了云加热对温带气旋的影响，但结果有些好坏参半，部分原因是缺乏可供得出结论的可用案例。 因此，由于可以检查的案例数量更多，以及云加热场质量的提高，新数据集有望得出更明确的结论。这项工作通过两个方式产生更广泛的影响：首先，它将支持研究生，从而为该研究领域的下一代科学家提供支持。 其次，这项工作将有利于评估和改进天气和气候模型。