Mesoscale Vortex Dynamics in Tropical Weather Systems

热带气旋发展仍然是一个困难的预报问题。本研究项目的目的是研究热带天气系统中发生的复杂运动，以及它们如何相互作用以促进或阻碍热带气旋的发展。该项目的影响将是帮助改进公共安全所依赖的热带气旋预报模型。该项目还包括实习机会，以促进劳动力发展。这个项目的重点是在热带天气系统中发生的复杂中尺度涡旋相互作用的性质和后果。这些研究活动将有助于进一步了解在各种情况下，当海洋表面通量、云过程和辐射有可能强烈影响中尺度涡旋的动力学时，控制中尺度涡旋合并和对齐的机制。使用云模式1模式的理想化数值模拟将包括研究的大部分内容，旨在帮助回答两个主要的研究问题：1)中尺度涡旋相互作用如何影响热带气旋的发展？2)绝热中尺度涡旋是如何相互作用的，是什么控制了它们相互作用的性质？该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Tropical cyclone development remains a difficult forecast problem. The objective of this research project is to study the complex motions that occur in a tropical weather system and how they interact to either assist or hinder tropical cyclone development. The impact of the project will be to help improve tropical cyclone forecast models that are relied upon for public safety. The project also includes an internship opportunity to enhance workforce development. This project is focused on the nature and consequences of complex mesoscale vortex interactions that occur in tropical weather systems. The research activities will advance knowledge of the mechanisms that control mesoscale vortex merger and alignment under various scenarios, when oceanic surface fluxes, cloud processes and radiation have the potential to strongly affect the dynamics. Idealized numerical modeling using the Cloud Model 1 model will comprise the bulk of the study and is intended to help answer the main two research questions: 1) How do mesoscale vortex interactions influence tropical cyclone development? 2) How do diabatic mesoscale vortices interact, and what controls the nature of their interaction?This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.