On the contributions of incipient vortex circulation and environmental moisture to tropical cyclone expansion
Group Members: Jonathan Martinez , C. Chelsea Nam , Michael M. Bell
Idealized numerical simulations of tropical cyclones are created to investigate the relative contributions of incipient vortex circulation and environmental moisture to tropical cyclone expansion. The principal findings demonstrate that an initially large vortex can expand more quickly than its relatively smaller counterpart. Increasing the environmental moisture further promotes expansion but mostly expedites the intensification process. Differences in the amount and scale of outer-core convection are associated with varying the incipient vortex circulation, resulting in variable expansion rates. Note: This project was also funded by the National Science Foundation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship Award 004863-00003.