Asymmetric Wind Field Research Articles

Modulation of tropical cyclone rapid intensification by mesoscale asymmetries

AbstractComputer model simulations are one of the most important tools in current use for understanding tropical cyclone (TC) formation and rapid intensification (RI). These include “idealized” simulations in which a TC‐like vortex is placed in a hypothetical environment with predefined sea surface temperature and vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, and wind that are either constant or slowly varying across a large domain. The vast majority of such simulations begin with a perfectly circular vortex as the precursor to a TC. However, most real TCs form or intensify while interacting with asymmetric wind fields either within or external to the vortex circulation. This study introduces a method to initialize idealized TC simulations with asymmetries, and investigates the extent to which such asymmetries might delay RI in favorable environments. It is shown that mesoscale asymmetries can delay RI and reduce the fastest rates of intensification, and that these effects are statistically significantly increased when relatively low values of vertical shear of the horizontal wind are present. In some cases the asymmetries tilt the vortex directly through advection. In other cases, the wind asymmetries increase the disorganization of the convection or increase the size of the inner‐core wind field, and thus make the weaker TC more susceptible to environmental wind shear. The results suggest that mesoscale asymmetries of the wind field could be useful predictors for delay of RI in otherwise favorable environments.

High Temporal Resolution Analyses with GOES-16 Atmospheric Motion Vectors of Mesovortex Rapid Intensification in Subtropical Cyclone Henri (2021)

Abstract Four-dimensional COAMPS dynamic initialization (FCDI) analyses with high temporal and spatial resolution GOES-16 atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) are utilized to analyze the development and rapid intensification of a mesovortex about 150 km to the south of the center of the subtropical cyclone, Cyclone Henri (2021). During the period of the unusual Henri westward track along 30°N, the FCDI z = 300-m wind vector analyses demonstrate highly asymmetric wind fields and a horseshoe-shaped isotach maximum that is about 75 km from the center, which are characteristics more consistent with the definition of a subtropical cyclone than of a tropical cyclone. Furthermore, the Henri westward track and the vertical wind shear have characteristics resembling a Rossby wave breaking conceptual model. The GOES-16 mesodomain AMVs allow the visualization of a series of outflow bursts in space and time in association with the southern mesovortex development and intensification. Then the FCDI analyses forced by those thousands of AMVs each 15 min depict the z = 13 910-m wind field responses and the subsequent z = 300-m wind field adjustments in the southern mesovortex. A second northern outflow burst displaced to the southeast of the main Henri vortex also led to a strong low-level mesovortex. It was when the two outflow bursts joined to create an eastward radial outflow all along the line between them that the southern mesovortex reached maximum intensity and maximum size. In contrast to the numerical model predictions of intensification, outflow from the mesovortex directed over the main Henri vortex led to a decrease in intensity.

Research on the influential characteristics of asymmetric wind fields on typhoon waves

The East China Sea is an ocean region with frequent typhoons, typhoons are also the main reason for inducing typhoon waves. The complexity of typhoon waves is closely related to the complexity of typhoon wind field. In previous studies, symmetrical wind field models or superimposed wind field models were usually used to simulate typhoon waves. However, the actual wind fields are asymmetric, and the asymmetry is affected by many factors. Therefore, three wind field models are used to simulate the wind field of Typhoon Muifa that moved through the East China Sea. Moreover, the abovementioned wind field models are used to drive the third-generation wave model SWAN to simulate the wave field and wave spectrum of Typhoon Muifa. Studies show that the values generated by the asymmetric wind field model are most consistent with the actual measurement data. This is especially the case if the typhoon center is closer to the station. The accuracy of the typhoon waves simulated using the asymmetric wind field model is better than that of the other two wind field models. The asymmetric wind field can reflect the asymmetric characteristics of the typhoon well. The substantial wave heights on the right side of typhoon’s path are substantially higher than those on the left side of path. Additionally, the maximum wave spectral density and total energy of waves as simulated by the asymmetric wind field are both larger than those of the other two wind field models. Thus, the asymmetric wind field model is more suitable for the numerical simulation of typhoon waves in the East China Sea.

Machine Learning–Based Hurricane Wind Reconstruction

Abstract Here we present a machine learning–based wind reconstruction model. The model reconstructs hurricane surface winds with XGBoost, which is a decision-tree-based ensemble predictive algorithm. The model treats the symmetric and asymmetric wind fields separately. The symmetric wind field is approximated by a parametric wind profile model and two Bessel function series. The asymmetric field, accounting for asymmetries induced by the storm and its ambient environment, is represented using a small number of Laplacian eigenfunctions. The coefficients associated with Bessel functions and eigenfunctions are predicted by XGBoost based on storm and environmental features taken from NHC best-track and ERA-Interim data, respectively. We use HWIND for the observed wind fields. Three parametric wind profile models are tested in the symmetric wind model. The wind reconstruction model’s performance is insensitive to the choice of the profile model because the Bessel function series correct biases of the parametric profiles. The mean square error of the reconstructed surface winds is smaller than the climatological variance, indicating skillful reconstruction. Storm center location, eyewall size, and translation speed play important roles in controlling the magnitude of the leading asymmetries, while the phase of the asymmetries is mainly affected by storm translation direction. Vertical wind shear impacts the asymmetry phase to a lesser degree. Intended applications of this model include assessing hurricane risk using synthetic storm event sets generated by statistical–dynamical downscaling hurricane models.

Dynamic Causes of ENSO Decay and Its Asymmetry

AbstractEl Niño and La Niña exhibit asymmetric evolution characteristics during their decay phases. The decay speed of El Niño is significantly greater than that of La Niña. This study systematically and quantitatively investigates the relative contributions of the equatorial western Pacific (WP) and central-eastern Pacific (CEP) wind stress anomalies to ENSO decay and its asymmetry through data analysis, numerical experiments, and dynamic and thermodynamic diagnoses. It is demonstrated that the sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) forced by the wind stress anomalies in the equatorial CEP play a dominant role in ENSO decay and contribute to ENSO decay asymmetry, while the forcing by the equatorial WP wind stress anomalies has a small contribution. Diagnoses of the oceanic mixed layer heat budget indicate that anomalous zonal advection term and vertical advection term forced by the wind stress anomalies in the equatorial CEP are the most important dynamic terms contributed to ENSO decay. Both terms in El Niño decay phase are much larger than in La Niña decay phase, resulting in a larger decay speed in El Niño than in La Niña. The contributions of these two terms do not depend on the equatorial WP wind field, confirming that the equatorial WP wind stress anomalies do not act as a pivotal part in ENSO asymmetric decay. Moreover, it is demonstrated that within the equatorial CEP, dominant contribution comes from the wind stress anomalies in the equatorial central Pacific, in which those in the equatorial southern central Pacific play a major role.Significance StatementPrevious studies proposed why wind fields in the equatorial western Pacific (WP) or central-eastern Pacific (CEP) are asymmetric and how the asymmetric wind fields affect ENSO decay and decay asymmetry. By using an oceanic general circulation model, we quantitatively estimate the relative contributions of the wind stress anomalies over the equatorial WP and CEP. It is demonstrated that the wind stress anomalies over the equatorial CEP and the associated ocean response play a dominant role in the asymmetric decay. Additionally, it is further illustrated the predominant role comes from the wind stress anomalies in the equatorial southern central Pacific within the equatorial CEP. Our study provides a physical explanation on the ENSO decay and its asymmetry.

Investigating Axisymmetric and Asymmetric Signals of Secondary Eyewall Formation Using Observations‐Based Modeling of the Tropical Cyclone Boundary Layer

AbstractThis study examines axisymmetric and asymmetric aspects of secondary eyewall formation (SEF) in tropical cyclones (TCs) by applying a nonlinear boundary layer model to tangential wind composites of observed TCs with and without SEF. SEF storms were further analyzed at times prior to and after SEF, as defined by the emergence of a secondary maximum in axisymmetric tangential wind. The model is used to investigate the steady‐state boundary layer response to the free‐tropospheric pressure forcing derived from observed tangential wind fields. The axisymmetric response to the Post‐SEF wind field displayed a secondary updraft maximum associated with a mature secondary eyewall; the model correctly produced no secondary updraft for non‐SEF storms. The Pre‐SEF response also exhibited a secondary updraft associated with an incipient secondary eyewall largely due to the broadened outer tangential wind field that commonly precedes SEF events. The asymmetric wind fields and model response were analyzed relative to the 850–200 hPa environmental wind shear vector. In Pre‐SEF storms, the tangential wind field displayed a broadened tangential wind structure in the downshear quadrants. The boundary layer response shows a downwind shift toward the left‐of‐shear quadrants, exhibiting the clearest secondary maxima in updrafts, tangential wind, and radial inflow. This left‐of‐shear response was the leading contributor to the secondary eyewall signals in the Pre‐SEF axisymmetric response. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these asymmetric signals. These findings suggest that enhanced tangential wind and boundary layer updrafts in the left‐of‐shear sectors may be early indicators and critical features of SEF in sheared TCs.

Asymmetric Wave Distributions of Tropical Cyclones Based on CFOSAT Observations

AbstractObservations of the China‐France oceanography satellite are used to investigate the wave distribution's asymmetry during tropical cyclone (TC) from August 2019 to August 2020. The spatial distribution of TC waves is analyzed based on an individual case, six ocean basins, and TCs categories. A study of super typhoon Hagibis shows that the highest significant wave height (SWH) appears on the typhoon track's right side. Further analysis reveals that the highest SWH is located on the right (left) side of TC tracks in the Northern Hemisphere (Southern Hemisphere). In the Western North Pacific, North Atlantic, Eastern North Pacific, and North Indian Ocean, the highest SWH is on the right side of TCs of 251, 260, 130, and 118 km, respectively. In the South Pacific and South Indian Ocean, the highest SWH is on the left side of 70 and 128 km. According to the TC categories, the largest (smallest) departure happens during the weakest (strongest) TC. The intensifying of TC favors the wavefield's growth and reduces the asymmetry of the wave height's distribution. Both the asymmetric wind fields and the land's orographic effects impact the TC wave's distribution. In the Eastern North Pacific, the TC wind is the weakest, but the departure is not the smallest, probably due to the left continent bounding the wave energy's propagation.

Simulating tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico using analytical models

SUMMARY Different analytical models have been evaluated for estimating wind speed of the tropical storm, where the storm-induced wind velocity is calculated as a function of distance from the center of the hurricane. For these models, different parameters such as maximum wind speed, a radius of the maximum wind, hurricane shape parameter, hurricane translation speed and the orientation of the trajectory, etc., affect the shape of a hurricane. Hurricanes Lili (2002), Ivan (2004), Katrina (2005), Gustav (2008) and Ike (2008) from the Gulf of Mexico were used for skill assessment. The maximum wind radius was calculated using significant wind radii (R34, R50 and R64) reported by the National Hurricane Center. Different formulas for calculating the radius of maximum wind speed were evaluated. The asymmetric wind field for each hurricane was generated using analytic methods and compared with in situ data from buoys in the Gulf of Mexico and the H*Wind data. Analytical models were able to predict high wind speed under tropical cyclone conditions with relatively high precision. Among the analytical models evaluated in this research, the model proposed by Holland et al. (2010) showed excellent results. Dynamical wind models such as NCEP/NARR provide wind speed with the coarse spatial resolution which is acceptable for far-field locations away from the hurricane eye. In contrast, analytical models were able to produce sufficiently reliable wind speed within a particular radius from the center of the hurricane. Therefore blending of dynamical and analytical models can be used to provide accurate wind data during hurricane passage in the Gulf of Mexico.

Rotor aerodynamics in sheared inflow: An analysis of out-of-plane bending moments

A sheared wind profile creates an asymmetric wind field and an asymmetric wind turbine wake. Both of these have been described in the past but a study on their implications on the out-of-plane moment on the rotor is still a gap which needs to be addressed. A numerical assessment has been undertaken using a lifting-line free-wake vortex code. Owing to the lack of experimental validation, two other modelling approaches are used to assess the consistency of results - an actuator disc approach and a blade element momentum approach. Results were found to show acceptably good agreement. The line of action of the thrust force is found to be shifted by around 10% upwards above the rotor axis for the extreme shear case of α = 0.55. The wake was found to add to the asymmetry of the wind field by increasing the vertical shift in the line of action by 100% compared to the wind field alone. The results have important implications on the role of the out-of-plane bending moment on the wake kinematics as well as other issues related to fatigue performance of the rotor.

Pedestrian-level wind environment around isolated buildings under the influence of twisted wind flows

The influence of twisted wind flows on pedestrian-level wind environments was evaluated by using two twisted wind profiles (TWP) in a boundary layer wind tunnel. Simulated wind profiles had maximum yaw angles of 13° and 22° to represent ‘high’ and ‘extreme’ wind twist conditions, respectively. Five buildings with the aspect ratio (Height: Width) of 4:1 to 0.5:1 were tested for a number of wind incidence angles to assess the influences of building dimensions and approaching wind directions. All test cases were repeated in a conventional wind profile (CWP) with similar mean wind speeds and turbulence intensities for the purpose of comparison. The results reveal that pedestrian-level wind environments in TWPs are different than in CWPs owe to asymmetric wind fields, displaced flow features, and variations in areas of high and low wind speeds. The increased areas of low wind speeds and displaced downstream far-field low wind speed (DFLWS) zone are the two important flow modifications that would have negative impacts on outdoor thermal comfort and air pollutant dispersion in built-up areas where TWPs exist. Due to the embedded wind twist angles, wind incidence angles have different effects on flow modifications in twisted wind profiles than in conventional wind profiles.

Wind Shear Target Echo Modeling and Simulation

Wind shear is a dangerous atmospheric phenomenon in aviation. Wind shear is defined as a sudden change of speed or direction of the wind. In order to analyze the influence of wind shear on the efficiency of the airplane, this paper proposes a mathematical model of point target rain echo and weather target signal echo based on Doppler effect. The wind field model is developed in this paper, and the antenna model is also studied by using Bessel function. The spectrum distribution of symmetric and asymmetric wind fields is researched by using the mathematical model proposed in this paper. The simulation results are in accordance with radial velocity component, and the simulation results also confirm the correctness of the established model of antenna.

Generalized VTD Retrieval of Atmospheric Vortex Kinematic Structure. Part I: Formulation and Error Analysis

Abstract The primary circulation of atmospheric vortices, such as tropical cyclones and tornadoes, can be estimated from single-Doppler radar observations using the ground-based velocity track display (GBVTD) algorithm. The GBVTD algorithm has limitations in the following four areas: 1) distortion in the retrieved asymmetric wind fields, 2) a limited analysis domain, 3) the inability to resolve the cross-beam component of the mean wind, and 4) the inability to separate the asymmetric tangential and radial winds. This paper presents the generalized velocity track display (GVTD) algorithm, which eliminates the first two limitations inherent in the GBVTD technique and demonstrates the possibility of subjectively estimating the mean wind vector when its signature is visible beyond the influence of the vortex circulation. In this new paradigm, the GVTD algorithm fits the atmospheric vortex circulation to a new variable VdD/RT in a linear azimuth angle (θ′), rather than the Doppler velocity Vd in a nonlinear angle (ψ), which is used in GBVTD. Key vortex kinematic structures (e.g., mean wind, axisymmetric tangential wind, etc.) in the VdD/RT space simplify the interpretation of the radar signature and eliminate the geometric distortion inherent in the Vd display. This is a significant improvement in diagnosing vortex structures in both operations and research. The advantages of using VdD/RT are illustrated using analytical atmospheric vortices, and the properties are compared with GBVTD. The characteristics of the VdD/RT display of Typhoon Gladys (1994) can be approximated by a constant mean wind plus an axisymmetric vortex.

A Preliminary Numerical Study on Asymmetric Wind Field Structure of Tropical Cyclones

This paper investigates the method of using the experiential model of tropical cyclone's wind distribution to estimate the tropical cyclone size (the radius of gale cycle). The “best size” data of the Northwest Pacific of 2001 compiled by Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) is used to determine the empirical constants of different models, and compute their estimating precisions. The results show that the “V Bogus” model is better than other experiential models. Moreover, based on the “V Bogus” model, we construct the wind asymmetry distribution model (“revised V Bogus”) of tropical cyclone by the asymmetry distribution of fitting size, estimate the value of characteristic parameters in this model in different seasons and geographical regions, which provide new evidence for the study and application of tropical cyclone size and asymmetric structure.