Date of Award

1-1-2017

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences

Content Description

1 online resource (xxii, 265 pages) : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps.

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Ryan D Torn

Committee Members

Kristen L Corbosiero, Christopher A Davis, John Molinari, Brian H Tang

Keywords

hurricanes, tropical cyclones, vertical wind shear, Cyclones, Vertical wind shear

Subject Categories

Atmospheric Sciences | Meteorology

Abstract

Deep-layer (200–850 hPa) vertical wind shear is generally an inhibiting factor for tropical cyclone intensification. Multiple studies—ranging from case studies to climatological analyses—have consistently shown that the chances of tropical cyclone intensification decrease with increasing vertical wind shear magnitude. However, tropical cyclones can intensify under moderate shear—the range of shear magnitudes that are neither too weak to have negligible influence on intensity nor too strong to completely halt intensification. Intensity, track, and precipitation forecasts of tropical cyclones under moderate shear can be highly uncertain; therefore, explaining how tropical cyclones evolve under seemingly unfavorable conditions is an important step towards improved tropical cyclone prediction.

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