Multi-scale Studies of the Structure, Evolution, and Energetics of Subtropical Cyclones in the Northern Pacific and Atlantic Ocean Basins

该项目的重点是研究寒冷季节发生在北方太平洋和大西洋盆地的被称为科纳低压的亚热带表面气旋。科纳低压是夏威夷群岛许多破坏性天气的原因。这些气旋系统起源于对流层外的高层短波，然后发展并传播到副热带地区的对流层低层。研究将包括：1）建立科纳低压的气候学及其相关大尺度环境的演变，并利用ECMWF再分析资料建立科纳低压的复合结构; 2）研究在对流层上层扰动加强下的信风东风中被困的闭塞气旋或气旋生成的个例。对这些情况的诊断将采用使用中尺度模型的模拟输出;以及3）调查复合和单一情况的能量学。 这项研究将提供洞察力的动力学和热力学的气旋，承担热带和副热带的特点。这项研究将为研究生学习和论文选题提供良好的机会。

This project focuses on the study of cold season, subtropical surface cyclones, known as the Kona lows, that occur in the northern Pacific and Atlantic Ocean basins. The Kona lows are responsible for much destructive weather in the Hawaiian Islands. These cyclone systems originate from extratropical upper level shortwaves and then develop and propagate to the lower troposphere in sub-tropical regions. The research will include: 1) building the climatology of the Kona lows and the evolution of their associated large-scale environment, and constructing the composite structure of the Kona lows using the ECMWF reanalysis; 2) studying single cases selected either as a trapped occluded cyclone or an example of cyclogenesis in the tradewind easterlies beneath a strengthening upper tropospheric disturbance. The diagnostics for these cases will employ output from simulations using a mesoscale model; and 3) investigating the energetics of both the composite and the single cases. This study will provide insight into the dynamics and thermodynamics of cyclones that bear both extra-tropical and subtropical characteristics. The research will provide good opportunities for graduate studies and thesis topics.