Characteristics of cyclone generated gravity waves observed using assimilated WRF model simulations over Bay of Bengal

Abstract

Characteristics of gravity waves (GWs) generated due to tropical cyclone (TC) Phailin (2013) that occurred over Bay of Bengal are investigated using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model simulations from its depression stage to weakening stage (10–14 October 2013). Two types of numerical experiments are conducted with and without assimilating conventional and satellite observations using the 3-Dimentional Variational (3DVAR) technique. The results show that the experiment without assimilating any observations (control) has produced a large difference in terms of track and intensity with observed best track estimates of IMD. Similar features are noticed also in winds, reflectivity and independent GPS Radio Occultation (temperature) and radiosonde (temperature and winds) profiles. The experiment with assimilation significantly reduced the observed differences in all the above mentioned parameters. A close match of the assimilated outputs with observations prompted us to use it to identify the TC generated GW characteristics. GW perturbation components are extracted from the three day mean (4–7 October 2013) calm background atmosphere prior to the formation of depression. When compared to the control run, assimilated outputs show a clear increase in all the gravity wave parameters except the amplitudes where control run wave amplitudes are found to be stronger than the assimilated outputs. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis in the time domain revealed dominance of GWs with periods of 2–4h. Band pass filtered vertical velocity perturbations for these periods showed clear downward phase propagation (0.05–0.07ms−1) in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) at different latitude/longitude positions away from the centre of the TC revealing an upward energy propagation of generated GWs. Interestingly, an increase in GW activity during the landfall of the TC is found. FFT in the vertical domain revealed vertical wavelengths ranging from 3 to 8km with dominance at 4–6km. Slicing the perturbations horizontally across the cyclone track revealed the horizontal wavelength ranging from 50 to 250km with dominance at 100–200km in the UTLS region. Thus, it is demonstrated that WRF assimilated outputs can be used to investigate the cyclone generated GW characteristics and effects on structure and dynamics.