Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential (TCHP) from the NCMRWF NEMO based global ocean analysis and forecast system

Abstract

In this study, the Nucleus European Modelling of Ocean (NEMO) based global ocean analysis and forecast system configured at National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMWRF) is used to compute the upper ocean heat content up to 26° isotherm depth called as Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential (TCHP). NCMRWF has the real-time TCHP monitoring capability on daily basis. It is produced in real time using the global ocean forecast system up to 10 days using the ocean only model and up to 15 days using the coupled atmosphere-ocean model for monitoring the upper ocean and also for research purpose mainly for Tropical Cyclone (TC) study. Four pre-monsoon TCs with category above cyclonic storms in which two from Arabian Sea and two from Bay of Bengal are also examined. The Sea Surface Temperature drop is much more over the regions where the surface wind stress anomaly is strong. In both regions, various small scale warm and cold eddies are observed during TCs. TCHP anomaly is positive/negative over the region where Sea Surface Height (SSH) anomaly is positive/negative. From TCHP, it is manifest that the magnitude of TCHP anomaly is higher in BoB than AS region during TCs.