Mesoscale Vortex Dynamics in Tropical Weather Systems

热带气旋的发展仍然是一个难以预测的问题。这项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帮助或阻碍热带气旋的发展。该项目的影响将有助于改进公共安全所依赖的热带气旋预报模型。该项目还包括一个实习机会，以加强劳动力发展。该项目的重点是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。研究活动将增进对各种情况下控制中尺度涡旋合并和排列的机制的了解，当海洋表面通量、云过程和辐射有可能强烈影响动力学时。使用云模型1模式的理想化数值模拟将构成研究的主要部分，旨在帮助回答两个主要研究问题：1)中尺度涡旋相互作用如何影响热带气旋的发展？2)非绝热中尺度涡旋如何相互作用，以及是什么控制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智力优势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.