The impact of Red Sea and topography on the atmospheric kinetic energy budget of a cyclonic system

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to assess the impact of the features (topography and surface water) of the Red Sea on the Kinetic Energy Budget (KEB) of a case of cyclogenesis occurred on November 15–19, 2015, over the eastern Mediterranean. This case of cyclogenesis was simulated using the weather research and forecasting model (WRF). This case study included one WRF control run (WRF-CR) and three sensitivity studies. The WRF-CR experiment was carried out with the physical presence of the Red Sea features, while the other three sensitivity experiments were executed as (i) No Red Sea Topography (NRST), (ii) No Red Sea surface Water (NRSW), and (iii) No Red Sea Topography and surface Water (NRSTW). The analysis of KEB terms from WRF-CR revealed that the persistence of the subtropical jet stream and its activity represent the main source of kinetic energy throughout the study period. Also, the most critical energy source is the generation of kinetic energy throughout the study period except from 18Z18 to 00Z19, while the major energy sink is the kinetic energy dissipation from grid scales to sub-grid during the study period except from 12Z18 to 00Z19. Furthermore, the horizontal flux convergence functions as an energy source during the first (15 November) and second (16–17 November) stages, whereas it acts as the principal energy sink in the final stage (18 November). It's also found that the KEB terms computed from WRF-CR behave similarly to those calculated from the other three studies, but with significant variances in absolute values.