Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

An Investigation of Extratropical Cyclone Development Using a Scale-Separation Technique

Kenneth E. Parsons Department of Meteorology, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona

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Phillip J. Smith Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

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Print Publication:
01 Apr 2004
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(2004)132<0956:AIOECD>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
956–974
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Abstract

The explosive development phase of an extratropical cyclone (ETC) is examined using output generated by the fifth-generation PSU–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5). A full-physics run of MM5 with 60-km grid spacing was used to simulate the intensive observation period (IOP)-4 storm of 4–5 January 1989 from the Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA). A diagnosis of the simulated ETC is performed using the Zwack–Okossi (Z–O) equation to examine the forcing mechanisms influencing development. A second- order Shapiro filter is used to partition the terms in the Z–O equation into synoptic-scale and subsynoptic-scale contributions to the near-surface synoptic-scale geostrophic vorticity tendency.

Results confirm that previous work using the Z–O equation at coarser resolutions correctly identified synoptic- scale processes as the most important cyclone development mechanisms. However, the results also show that both adiabatic and diabatic subsynoptic thermal processes can make important contributions to synoptic-scale ETC development.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Kenneth E. Parsons, Embry– Riddle Aeronautical University, 3700 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, AZ 86301. Email: kenneth.parsons@erau.edu

Abstract

The explosive development phase of an extratropical cyclone (ETC) is examined using output generated by the fifth-generation PSU–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5). A full-physics run of MM5 with 60-km grid spacing was used to simulate the intensive observation period (IOP)-4 storm of 4–5 January 1989 from the Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA). A diagnosis of the simulated ETC is performed using the Zwack–Okossi (Z–O) equation to examine the forcing mechanisms influencing development. A second- order Shapiro filter is used to partition the terms in the Z–O equation into synoptic-scale and subsynoptic-scale contributions to the near-surface synoptic-scale geostrophic vorticity tendency.

Results confirm that previous work using the Z–O equation at coarser resolutions correctly identified synoptic- scale processes as the most important cyclone development mechanisms. However, the results also show that both adiabatic and diabatic subsynoptic thermal processes can make important contributions to synoptic-scale ETC development.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Kenneth E. Parsons, Embry– Riddle Aeronautical University, 3700 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, AZ 86301. Email: kenneth.parsons@erau.edu

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