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Il-Ju Moon
,
Isaac Ginis
, and
Tetsu Hara

Abstract

Effects of new drag coefficient (Cd ) parameterizations on WAVEWATCH III (WW3) model surface wave simulations are investigated. The new parameterizations are based on a coupled wind–wave model (CWW) and a wave tank experiment, and yields reduced Cd at high wind speeds. Numerical experiments for uniform winds and Hurricane Katrina (2005) indicate that the original Cd parameterization used in WW3 overestimates drag at high wind speeds compared to recent observational, theoretical, and numerical modeling results. Comparisons with buoy measurements during Hurricane Katrina demonstrate that WW3 simulations with the new Cd parameterizations yield more accurate significant wave heights compared to simulations with the original Cd parameterization, provided that accurate high-resolution wind forcing fields are used.

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Il-Ju Moon
,
Isaac Ginis
, and
Tetsu Hara

Abstract

Present parameterizations of air–sea momentum flux at high wind speed, including hurricane wind forcing, are based on extrapolation from field measurements in much weaker wind regimes. They predict monotonic increase of drag coefficient (C d ) with wind speed. Under hurricane wind forcing, the present numerical experiments using a coupled ocean wave and wave boundary layer model show that C d at extreme wind speeds strongly depends on the wave field. Higher, longer, and more developed waves in the right-front quadrant of the storm produce higher sea drag; lower, shorter, and younger waves in the rear-left quadrant produce lower sea drag. Hurricane intensity, translation speed, as well as the asymmetry of wind forcing are major factors that determine the spatial distribution of C d . At high winds above 30 m s−1, the present model predicts a significant reduction of C d and an overall tendency to level off and even decrease with wind speed. This tendency is consistent with recent observational, experimental, and theoretical results at very high wind speeds.

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Il-Ju Moon
,
Isaac Ginis
,
Tetsu Hara
, and
Biju Thomas

Abstract

A new bulk parameterization of the air–sea momentum flux at high wind speeds is proposed based on coupled wave–wind model simulations for 10 tropical cyclones that occurred in the Atlantic Ocean during 1998–2003. The new parameterization describes how the roughness length increases linearly with wind speed and the neutral drag coefficient tends to level off at high wind speeds. The proposed parameterization is then tested on real hurricanes using the operational Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) coupled hurricane–ocean prediction model. The impact of the new parameterization on the hurricane prediction is mainly found in increased maximum surface wind speeds, while it does not appreciably affect the hurricane central pressure prediction. This helps to improve the GFDL model–predicted wind–pressure relationship in strong hurricanes. Attempts are made to provide physical explanations as to why the reduced drag coefficient affects surface wind speeds but not the central pressure in hurricanes.

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Sung-Hun Kim
,
Il-Ju Moon
, and
Pao-Shin Chu

Abstract

A statistical–dynamical model for predicting tropical cyclone (TC) intensity has been developed using a track-pattern clustering (TPC) method and ocean-coupled potential predictors. Based on the fuzzy c-means clustering method, TC tracks during 2004–12 in the western North Pacific were categorized into five clusters, and their unique characteristics were investigated. The predictive model uses multiple linear regressions, where the predictand or the dependent variable is the change in maximum wind speed relative to the initial time. To consider TC-ocean coupling effects due to TC-induced vertical mixing and resultant surface cooling, new potential predictors were also developed for maximum potential intensity (MPI) and intensification potential (POT) using depth-averaged temperature (DAT) instead of sea surface temperature (SST). Altogether, 6 static, 11 synoptic, and 3 DAT-based potential predictors were used. Results from a series of experiments for the training period of 2004–12 using TPC and DAT-based predictors showed remarkably improved TC intensity predictions. The model was tested on predictions of TC intensity for 2013 and 2014, which are not used in the training samples. Relative to the nonclustering approach, the TPC and DAT-based predictors reduced prediction errors about 12%–25% between 24- and 96-h lead time. The present model is also compared with four operational dynamical forecast models. At short leads (up to 24 h) the present model has the smallest mean absolute errors. After a 24-h lead time, the present model still shows skill that is comparable with the best operational models.

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Il-Ju Moon
,
Thomas R. Knutson
,
Hye-Ji Kim
,
Alexander V. Babanin
, and
Jin-Yong Jeong

Abstract

Tropical cyclones operate as heat engines, deriving energy from the thermodynamic disequilibrium between ocean surfaces and atmosphere. Available energy for the cyclones comes primarily from upper-ocean heat content. Here, we show that eastern North Pacific hurricanes reach a given intensity 15% faster on average than western North Pacific typhoons despite having half the available ocean heat content. Eastern North Pacific hurricanes also intensify on average 16% more with a given ocean energy (i.e., air–sea enthalpy flux) than western North Pacific typhoons. As efficient intensifiers, eastern Pacific hurricanes remain small during their intensification period, tend to stay at lower latitudes, and are affected by relatively lower vertical wind shear, a colder troposphere, and a drier boundary layer. Despite a shallower warm upper-ocean layer in the eastern North Pacific, average hurricane-induced sea surface cooling there is only slightly larger than in the western North Pacific due to the opposing influences of stronger density stratification, smaller size, and related wave-interaction effects. In contrast, western North Pacific typhoons encounter a more favorable oceanic environment for development, but several factors cause typhoons to greatly increase their size during intensification, resulting in a slow and inefficient intensification process. These findings on tropical cyclones’ basin-dependent characteristics contribute toward a better understanding of TC intensification.

Free access
Il-Ju Moon
,
Tetsu Hara
,
Isaac Ginis
,
Stephen E. Belcher
, and
Hendrik L. Tolman

Abstract

The effect of surface waves on air–sea momentum exchange over mature and growing seas is investigated by combining ocean wave models and a wave boundary layer model. The combined model estimates the wind stress by explicitly calculating the wave-induced stress. In the frequency range near the spectral peak, the NOAA/ NCEP surface wave model WAVEWATCH-III is used to estimate the spectra, while the spectra in the equilibrium range are determined by an analytical model. This approach allows for the estimation of the drag coefficient and the equivalent surface roughness for any surface wave fields. Numerical experiments are performed for constant winds from 10 to 45 m s−1 to investigate the effect of mature and growing seas on air–sea momentum exchange. For mature seas, the Charnock coefficient is estimated to be about 0.01 ∼ 0.02 and the drag coefficient increases as wind speed increases, both of which are within the range of previous observational data. With growing seas, results for winds less than 30 m s−1 show that the drag coefficient is larger for younger seas, which is consistent with earlier studies. For winds higher than 30 m s−1, however, results show a different trend; that is, very young waves yield less drag. This is because the wave-induced stress due to very young waves makes a small contribution to the total wind stress in very high wind conditions.

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Il-Ju Moon
,
Isaac Ginis
,
Tetsu Hara
,
Hendrik L. Tolman
,
C. W. Wright
, and
Edward J. Walsh

Abstract

Numerical simulation of sea surface directional wave spectra under hurricane wind forcing was carried out using a high-resolution wave model. The simulation was run for four days as Hurricane Bonnie (1998) approached the U.S. East Coast. The results are compared with buoy observations and NASA Scanning Radar Altimeter (SRA) data, which were obtained on 24 August 1998 in the open ocean and on 26 August when the storm was approaching the shore. The simulated significant wave height in the open ocean reached 14 m, agreeing well with the SRA and buoy observations. It gradually decreased as the hurricane approached the shore. In the open ocean, the dominant wavelength and wave direction in all four quadrants relative to the storm center were simulated very accurately. For the landfall case, however, the simulated dominant wavelength displays noticeable overestimation because the wave model cannot properly simulate shoaling processes. Direct comparison of the model and SRA directional spectra in all four quadrants of the hurricane shows excellent agreement in general. In some cases, the model produces smoother spectra with narrower directional spreading than do the observations. The spatial characteristics of the spectra depend on the relative position from the hurricane center, the hurricane translation speed, and bathymetry. Attempts are made to provide simple explanations for the misalignment between local wind and wave directions and for the effect of hurricane translation speed on wave spectra.

Full access
Il-Ju Moon
,
Isaac Ginis
,
Tetsu Hara
,
Hendrik L. Tolman
,
C. W. Wright
, and
Edward J. Walsh

Abstract

Numerical simulation of sea surface directional wave spectra under hurricane wind forcing was carried out using a high-resolution wave model. The simulation was run for four days as Hurricane Bonnie (1998) approached the U.S. East Coast. The results are compared with buoy observations and NASA Scanning Radar Altimeter (SRA) data, which were obtained on 24 August 1998 in the open ocean and on 26 August when the storm was approaching the shore. The simulated significant wave height in the open ocean reached 14 m, agreeing well with the SRA and buoy observations. It gradually decreased as the hurricane approached the shore. In the open ocean, the dominant wavelength and wave direction in all four quadrants relative to the storm center were simulated very accurately. For the landfall case, however, the simulated dominant wavelength displays noticeable overestimation because the wave model cannot properly simulate shoaling processes. Direct comparison of the model and SRA directional spectra in all four quadrants of the hurricane shows excellent agreement in general. In some cases, the model produces smoother spectra with narrower directional spreading than do the observations. The spatial characteristics of the spectra depend on the relative position from the hurricane center, the hurricane translation speed, and bathymetry. Attempts are made to provide simple explanations for the misalignment between local wind and wave directions and for the effect of hurricane translation speed on wave spectra.

Full access
Kyung-Ja Ha
,
SungHyun Nam
,
Jin-Yong Jeong
,
Il-Ju Moon
,
Meehye Lee
,
Junghee Yun
,
Chan Joo Jang
,
Yong Sun Kim
,
Do-Seong Byun
,
Ki-Young Heo
, and
Jae-Seol Shim

Abstract

The main purposes for establishing the Korea ocean research stations (KORS) are for advancing an overall understanding of atmospheric and oceanic phenomena in the Yellow and East China Seas; for providing core scientific data for the studies on global environmental change, typhoon dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, marine ecosystems and fisheries, atmospheric chemistry involving Asian dust and aerosols, air–sea interaction processes including sea fog, and regional oceanographic process studies; and for functioning as ground stations of ocean remote sensing. Here, ocean–atmosphere time series observations with data service and case studies of KORS applications that will facilitate collaboration among researchers in the international atmospheric and oceanographic communities are presented.

Open access