Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

A Comparison of Inner and Outer Spiral Rainbands in a Numerically Simulated Tropical Cyclone

Qingqing Li International Pacific Research Center, and Department of Meteorology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Shanghai Typhoon Institute and Laboratory of Typhoon Forecast Technique/CMA, Shanghai, China

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Yuqing Wang International Pacific Research Center, and Department of Meteorology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Print Publication:
01 Sep 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-11-00237.1
Page(s):
2782–2805
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Abstract

The simulated inner and outer spiral rainbands in a tropical cyclone are compared in this study. The inner rainbands are generally active immediately outside the eyewall in the rapid filamentation zone, while the outer rainbands are active in regions outside about 3 times the radius of maximum wind. The inner rainbands are characterized by the convectively coupled vortex Rossby waves. The movement of the outer rainbands follows the low-level vector winds associated with the azimuthally averaged low-level flow and the radially outward cross-band flow caused by the downdraft-induced cold pool in the boundary layer. Convective cells in outer rainbands are typical of convective systems and move cyclonically and radially outward (inward) at large (small) radii.

Net upward vertical mass transports (VMTs) appear throughout the depth of the troposphere in the whole inner-rainband region, while net downward VMTs are found below 4-km height in the outer-rainband region. In the whole inner-rainband region, only a very shallow layer with net horizontal convergence appears below 2-km height, while a deep layer with net convergence is found below 7.5-km height with net divergence aloft in the outer-rainband region. The inner rainband shows two tangential wind maxima, respectively, located near the top of the inflow boundary layer and immediately below the upper-tropospheric outflow layer. A secondary horizontal wind maximum occurs at about 4-km height on the inner edge of the outer rainband. Distinct features of the upwind, middle, and downwind sectors of the outer rainband are also discussed.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Yuqing Wang, International Pacific Research Center, SOEST, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822. E-mail: yuqing@hawaii.edu

Abstract

The simulated inner and outer spiral rainbands in a tropical cyclone are compared in this study. The inner rainbands are generally active immediately outside the eyewall in the rapid filamentation zone, while the outer rainbands are active in regions outside about 3 times the radius of maximum wind. The inner rainbands are characterized by the convectively coupled vortex Rossby waves. The movement of the outer rainbands follows the low-level vector winds associated with the azimuthally averaged low-level flow and the radially outward cross-band flow caused by the downdraft-induced cold pool in the boundary layer. Convective cells in outer rainbands are typical of convective systems and move cyclonically and radially outward (inward) at large (small) radii.

Net upward vertical mass transports (VMTs) appear throughout the depth of the troposphere in the whole inner-rainband region, while net downward VMTs are found below 4-km height in the outer-rainband region. In the whole inner-rainband region, only a very shallow layer with net horizontal convergence appears below 2-km height, while a deep layer with net convergence is found below 7.5-km height with net divergence aloft in the outer-rainband region. The inner rainband shows two tangential wind maxima, respectively, located near the top of the inflow boundary layer and immediately below the upper-tropospheric outflow layer. A secondary horizontal wind maximum occurs at about 4-km height on the inner edge of the outer rainband. Distinct features of the upwind, middle, and downwind sectors of the outer rainband are also discussed.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Yuqing Wang, International Pacific Research Center, SOEST, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822. E-mail: yuqing@hawaii.edu
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