Horizontal Vorticity Advection Research Articles

Intraseasonal variations of precipitation over southern China during boreal winter and their two primary influencing factors

AbstractThis paper utilizes reanalysis data and statistical methods to elucidate the physical mechanisms of intraseasonal variations of precipitation over southern China during the boreal winter, as well as the two primary factors influencing these variations. Anomalous southerly (northerly) wind over southern China will result in the strong moisture convergence (divergence) in enhanced (suppressed) scenarios, and the stronger positive (negative) horizontal advection of absolute vorticity at upper troposphere induces the anomalous ascending (descending) motion in enhanced (suppressed) scenarios. The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) in the tropics and a wave train over the North Atlantic and Eurasia with four activity centres in the mid–high latitudes (referred as NAE‐wave train) are the two primary factors that modulate the intraseasoanl precipitation over southern China. The intraseasonal circulation induced by MJO and NAE‐wave train exhibits distinct features, resulting in different physical mechanisms of their influences. The moisture flux divergence anomalies over southern China associated with MJO mainly stem from the meridional moisture convergence, whereas the meridional moisture advection is the first contributor in the influence of NAE‐wave train. The anomalous vorticity advection at upper troposphere associated with MJO is primarily influenced by the meridional advection, but that associated with NAE‐wave train is dominated by the zonal advection. Anomalous precipitation induced by MJO is concentrated mainly over South China, while that caused by NAE‐wave train is primarily located in the mid–lower Yangtze River basin. Therefore, different phases locking of MJO and NAE‐wave train could lead to various precipitation anomalies over southern China.

Influence of Underlying Topography on Post-Monsoon Cyclonic Systems over the Indian Peninsula

During the post-monsoon cyclone season, the landfalls of westward-moving cyclonic systems often lead to extreme rainfall over the east coast of the Indian peninsula. A stationary cyclonic system over the coast can produce heavy rainfall for several days and cause catastrophic flooding. This study analyzes the dynamics of a propagating and stationary cyclonic system over the east coast, highlighting the possible cause behind the stagnation. The vorticity budgets of these two systems are presented using a reanalysis dataset. Vortex stretching and horizontal vorticity advection were the dominant terms in the budget. Vertical advection and tilting terms were significant over the orography. The horizontal advection of vorticity was positive (negative) on the western (eastern) side of the systems and, thus, favored westward propagation. Vortex stretching was confined to the upstream of orography in the stationary vortex. In the propagating vortex, the vortex stretching occurred over the orography during its passage. Data from the radiosonde soundings over a coastal station showed orographic blocking of the low-level winds in the stationary case. Conversely, the flow crossed the orographic barrier in the propagating case. Thus, the predominance of the upstream orographic convergence over the vortex circulation can be the reason for system stagnation over the coast.

Exploring the Evolution of Typhoon Lekima (2019) Moving Offshore Northeast of Taiwan with a Multi-Resolution Global Model

Typhoon Lekima occurred in early August 2019 and moved northwestward toward Taiwan. During offshore passage, the typhoon underwent rapid intensification, with a northward deflected track, moving closer to northeastern Taiwan. A global model, MPAS, at a multi-resolution of 60-15-3 km, is utilized with ensemble forecasts to investigate the dynamic processes causing the track deflection and intensity change as well as identify the track uncertainty to initial perturbed conditions under the topographic effects of the Central Mountain Range (CMR). For spinning up the typhoon vortex in ensemble forecasts, dynamic vortex initialization has been enforced with a 3 km resolution targeted at the Taiwan area. As one specific member track is similar to the best track, the track deflection is significantly reduced in the absence of the Taiwan terrain, highlighting the role of the topographic effects of the CMR. For these tracks with similar deflection, the northward deflection is caused by the induced strong flow to the east of the typhoon center in response to the re-circulating flow around southern Taiwan, which produces the wavenumber-one gyre in the asymmetric flow difference to drive the vortex northward. The typhoon translation around the Taiwan terrain is dominated by the changing wavenumber-one horizontal potential vorticity (PV) advection during the track deflection in the ensemble forecasts. The formation of an intense PV tongue along the upper eyewall is a facilitation precondition of RI, while RI can be significantly enhanced in the presence of an intense lower-stratospheric PV core near the upper eye, which is produced by the radial inflow of the developed transverse vortex circulation over the upper-level outflow layer.

On the Evolution of a Long‐Lived Mesoscale Convective Vortex that Acted as a Crucial Condition for the Extremely Strong Hourly Precipitation in Zhengzhou

AbstractFrom 17–22 July 2021, Henan Province experienced the most severe torrential rainfall event since 1975 with a maximum hourly precipitation of 201.9 mm appeared in Zhengzhou, which was the largest hourly rainfall thus far observed by meteorological observation stations over the Chinese Mainland. The appearance of a long‐lived (21‐hr) northwestward‐moving mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) and its interaction with its parent mesoscale convective system (MCS) was crucial to produce the extremely strong heavy rainfall in Zhengzhou. The backward trajectory analysis indicates that air particles in the lower troposphere beneath the MCS over Henan contributed mostly to the MCV's formation. These air particles experienced notable ascending motions and condensation with their strong cyclonic vorticity mostly produced 1‐hr before the MCV's formation. Vorticity budget denotes that strong upward transport of cyclonic vorticity and convergence‐related vertical stretching, both of which were mainly due to convection associated with the parent MCS, acted as dominant factors for the MCV's formation. After formation, the MCV first coupled with its parent MCS, during which its intensity, thickness, and precipitation were all maximized; then, it moved northwestward and decoupled from the MCS, during which it weakened rapidly and finally dissipated. Convection‐related upward cyclonic vorticity transport and inward horizontal advection of cyclonic vorticity associated with an inverted trough over the Henan Province dominated the vortex's development/maintenance in the coupling stage; whereas outward horizontal advection of cyclonic vorticity dominated the MCV's dissipation after it completely decoupled from its parent MCS. These differ notably from the findings documented in previous MCV‐related literature.

A Numerical Study for Tropical Cyclone Atsani (2020) Past Offshore of Southern Taiwan under Topographic Influences

Tropical Cyclone Atsani occurred in late October 2020 and moved westward offshore south of Taiwan. During its offshore passage, the cyclone deflects northward as it closes to the southern end of Taiwan. A global model MPAS at a multi-resolution of 60-15-3-km is applied to explore the track responses of Atsani and identify the topographic effects of the Central Mountain Range (CMR) on the cyclone circulation and the associated track deflection. With a 3-km resolution targeted at the Taiwan area, the cyclone track deflection can be reasonably simulated, with more sensitivity to physics schemes and dynamic vortex initialization and less sensitivity to initial environmental perturbations. When the Taiwan terrain is removed, the cyclone indeed deflects more northward earlier, in particular for simulations with a stronger cyclone that tends to generate stronger east-west wind asymmetry in the absence of the terrain. Idealized simulations with a regional model WRF at 3-km resolution are also utilized to contrast the track deflection of different departing cyclones, similar to the real case. It was found that northward deflection will be induced near south of the CMR-like terrain for both stronger and weaker westbound cyclones departing at different latitudes south of the terrain. We have explained why a further northward track at earlier stages is induced in the absence of the terrain effects in regard to model initial states. In both real and idealized cases, the track deflection of the cyclone moving around the terrain is dominated by the wavenumber-one horizontal potential vorticity (PV) advection that is somewhat offset by both vertical PV advection and differential diabatic heating.

Evolution of warm season intense rainfall in Yaan against a cold-anomaly background

This study investigates the rainfall characteristics during intense rainfall over Yaan against a cold-anomaly background, aiming to refine the understanding of different kinds of rainfall events across complex terrain. Hourly rain gauge records, ERA5 reanalysis data and the black body temperature of cloud tops derived from FY-2E were used. The results show that against a cold-anomaly background, the regional rainfall events (RREs) in Yaan exhibit west-to-east propagation, which is different from the north-to-south evolution of warm RREs. The middle and upper troposphere is dominated by a negative geopotential height anomaly corresponding to the cold anomaly. The cyclonic circulation at the higher level associated with the negative geopotential height anomaly bends the high-level jet to the south, forming a divergent zone over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and guiding mid-level systems to move eastward. The cyclonic circulation at the mid-level produces a wind shear zone over the TP, generating anomalous vorticity that continuously moves eastward and develops to influence the rainfall over Yaan. The cold Yaan RREs are closely related to the TP low-pressure systems (both vortex and shearline). The anomalous vorticity over the TP can influence the local vortex over the eastern periphery of the TP at a distance mainly by the horizontal advection of anomalous vorticity by the mean flow and then enhance the local vortex mainly by anomalous convergence when it moves near Yaan.

Dynamical propagation and growth mechanisms for convectively coupled equatorial Kelvin waves over the Indian Ocean

AbstractConvectively coupled equatorial Kelvin waves (CCKWs) are high‐impact tropical weather systems that can lead to severe flooding over the Maritime Continent. Here, a vorticity budget for CCKWs over the Indian Ocean is constructed using reanalysis data, to identify the basic mechanisms of eastward propagation and growth. The budget is reasonably well closed, with a small residual/subgrid‐scale term. In the lower troposphere, CCKWs behave like strongly modified theoretical equatorial Kelvin waves. Vortex stretching, from the divergence of the Kelvin wave acting on planetary vorticity (the term), is the sole mechanism by which the vorticity structure of a theoretical Kelvin wave propagates eastward. In the lower and middle troposphere, this term is also the key mechanism for the eastward propagation of CCKWs but, due to subtleties in its structure and phasing linked to a combination of modal structures, it also contributes to growth. Unlike in the theoretical Kelvin wave, other vorticity source terms also play a role in the propagation and growth of CCKWs. In particular, vortex stretching from relative vorticity (the term) is the largest source term, and this leads strongly to growth, through interactions between the background and perturbation vorticity and divergence. Horizontal vorticity advection by the background flow contributes to propagation, and also acts to retard the growth of the CCKW. The sum of the source terms in this complex vorticity budget leads to eastward propagation and growth of CCKWs. The structure and vorticity budget of CCKWs in the upper troposphere is quite unlike that of a Kelvin wave, and appears to arise as a forced response to the lower‐tropospheric structure. The implications for numerical weather prediction and climate simulations are discussed.

Impacts of Steering Flows with Different Timescales on the Track of Typhoon Sanba (2012)

Typhoon Sanba (2012), the strongest tropical cyclone (TC) of the year worldwide, moved northward almost along 130° longitude during its lifetime and passed through different background flows from low to high latitudes. The steering flows with different timescales for Sanba are retrieved by using the NCEP reanalysis data with the total wind field separated into: a mean state, an interannual component, an intraseasonal component, and a synoptic component. Our analysis indicates that the intraseasonal timescale wave train (WT) with east–west oriented circulations made the largest contribution to the movement of Sanba. The effects of the environmental steering with different timescales on Sanba’s movement are investigated with numerical simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. In the control simulation, total fields from the NCEP reanalysis are used as initial and boundary conditions, and the northward motion of Sanba is well captured. In sensitivity experiments, each of the intraseasonal and interannual components is removed one at a time. The steering vectors associated with these timescales can explain their influences on the movement of Sanba in the experiments. Vorticity budget analyses indicate that the horizontal vorticity advection made the largest contribution to the movement of the storm.

Long-time dynamics of internal wave streaming

Abstract

Track Deflection of Typhoon Maria (2018) during a Westbound Passage Offshore of Northern Taiwan: Topographic Influence

AbstractThis study applies a global model (FV3GFS) with stretched resolution of approximately 7 km for simulating Typhoon Maria (2018), which exhibited a sudden northward track deflection when approaching about 150 km northeast of Taiwan. As Maria approached land, the outer cyclonic flow at the western flank of the typhoon is split around the northern part of the Central Mountain Range (CMR) in Taiwan to converge east of Taiwan with the recirculating southerly flow around the southern corner of the CMR. Such strong convergence leads to northward deflection of the west-northwestward-moving typhoon with the stronger wind mainly east of the vortex center. The radial inflow at low levels is intensified south of the vortex center and transports larger angular momentum (AM) inward with the enhanced upward motions and vertical mean AM advection to increase the azimuthal mean tangential wind in the lower-tropospheric eyewall. A vorticity budget of wavenumber-1 decomposition indicates that the track deflection is dominated by horizontal vorticity advection in response to the intensifying flow. Numerical experiments with idealized WRF also support such northward track deflection as westward tropical cyclones approach a mountain range within an offshore meridional distance of about 200 km. The northward track deflection is only slightly amplified as the terrain height is considerably increased, consistent with the real-case simulation. However, the northward track deflection is not increased as the approaching vortex is initialized closer to the northern end of the mountain range, due to the enhanced east–west symmetry of wind structure in the inner vortex.

Predictability of the Strong Ural blocking Event in January 2012 in the Subseasonal to Seasonal Models of Europe and Canada

The occurrence of a Ural blocking (UB) event is an important precursor of severe cold air outbreaks in Siberia and East Asia, and thus is significant to accurately predict UB events. Using subseasonal to seasonal (S2S) models of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), we evaluated the predictability of a persistent UB event on 18 to 26 January 2012. Results showed that the ECCC model was superior to the ECMWF model in predicting the development stage of the UB event ten days in advance, while the ECMWF model had better predictions than the ECCC model for more than ten days in advance and the decaying stage of the UB event. By comparing the dynamic and thermodynamic evolution of the UB event predicted by the two models via the geostrophic vorticity tendency equation and temperature tendency equation, we found that the ECCC model better predicted the vertical vorticity advection, ageostrophic vorticity tendency, the tilting effect, horizontal temperature advection, and adiabatic heating during the development stage, whereas the ECMWF model better predicted the three dynamic and the two thermodynamic terms during the decaying stage. In addition, during both the development and decaying stages, the two models were good (bad) at predicting the vortex stretching term (horizontal vorticity advection), with the PCC between both the predictions and the observations larger (smaller) than +0.70 (+0.10) Thus, we suggest that the prediction of the persistent UB event in the S2S model might be improved by the better prediction of the horizontal vorticity advection.

Quasi-biweekly impact of the atmospheric heat source over the Tibetan Plateau on summer rainfall in Eastern China

We investigated the intraseasonal relationship between the atmospheric heat source over Tibetan Plateau (TP) and summer rainfall in eastern China. A quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) is the common dominant periodicity over both the TP and eastern China. Crucially, the TP heat source QBWO leads rainfall QBWO over its downstream region by 2–8 days. The QBWO over the TP shows a significant eastward propagation. Phase composite further identified the specific propagation pathway: TP QBWO first propagates eastward to central China, southward to southern China, and then northeastward to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River with a zigzag propagating pathway. Mechanistically, the eastward propagation of the upper level divergence caused by the movement of the 200 hPa jet core and south Asian high contributes to the eastward propagation of the rainfall QBWO. Simultaneously, the eastward (westward) shift in the western north Pacific subtropical high causes deepening (flattening) of the monsoon trough and the occurrence of an anomalous cyclone (anticyclone) over the western north Pacific. An anomalous anticyclonic (cyclonic) circulation around the TP appears with the wet-to-dry (dry-to-wet) phase transition of the TP QBWO. Together, they play a crucial part in the southward (northeastward) movement of the QBWO. Further dynamic analysis indicates that the horizontal moisture advection acts on the whole eastward-propagating process of the QBWO, whereas the horizontal vorticity advection is only significant when QBWO is over the TP. This study shows that the fluctuations in TP heat source are important indicators in extended forecasts of summer rainfall in eastern China.

Revisitando a Equação do Desenvolvimento de Sutcliffe

This study presents a review of the interpretation of the terms of the Sutcliffe’s equation and its contribution to the prediction of low and high pressure systems. For this reason, it was performed a case study of an extratropical cyclone that was associated with a cold wave in Brazil. The cyclone occurred on July 15, 2017 between the coast of Uruguay and Argentina. An intense horizontal gradient of surface air temperature and the horizontal advection of absolute vorticity at 500 hPa contributed to the formation of the low over the surface. The horizontal advection of absolute vorticity, according to the Sutcliffe’s equation, was important to the system manutention. On the other hand, this advection associated with the horizontal advection of air temperature were important to guide the displacement of the cyclone on the surface.

Evaluation of the Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation over the South China Sea in Early and Late Summer in CAM5

Abstract Low-frequency intraseasonal oscillations in the tropical atmosphere in general circulation models (GCMs) were studied extensively in many previous studies. However, the simulation of the quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO), which is an important component of the intraseasonal oscillations, in GCMs has not received much attention. This paper evaluates the QBWO features over the South China Sea in early [May–June (MJ)] and late [August–September (AS)] summer in the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model, version 5.3 (CAM5), using observations and reanalysis data. Results show that the major features of the spatial distribution of the QBWO in both MJ and AS are simulated reasonably well by the model, although the amplitude of the variation is overestimated. CAM5 captures the local oscillation in MJ and the westward propagation in AS of the QBWO. Although there are important biases in geographical location and intensity in MJ, the model represents the QBWO horizontal and vertical structure qualitatively well in AS. The diagnosis of the eddy vorticity budget is conducted to better understand the QBWO activities in the model. Both horizontal advection of relative vorticity and that of planetary vorticity (Coriolis parameter) are important for the local evolution of the QBWO in MJ in observations as well as model simulation, whereas advection of planetary vorticity contributes to the westward propagation of QBWO vorticity anomalies in AS. Since the Coriolis parameter f only changes with latitude, this suggests that the correct simulation of anomalous meridional wind is a key factor in the realistic simulation of the QBWO in the model.

The Study of Inland Eyewall Reformation of Typhoon Fanapi (2010) Using Numerical Experiments and Vorticity Budget Analysis

AbstractNumerical simulations of Typhoon Fanapi (2010) interacting with the terrain of Taiwan are conducted using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model (ARW, version 3.3.1) on a triply nested grid (with the finest grid size of 1 km and 55 vertical levels). Fanapi made landfall on eastern Taiwan at 0000 UTC 19 September and left Taiwan at 1200 UTC 19 September 2010, producing heavy rainfall and severe floods. After landfall, the Fanapi eyewall weakened and broke down over the Central Mountain Range. Vortical hot towers (VHTs) occurred along the Fanapi rainband, and the VHTs in land have weaker maximum updrafts (7.0–8.0 m/s), narrower diameter (7.0–11.5 km), and shallower depth (6.5–9.0 km), compared with oceanic VHTs over the Taiwan Strait. The VHTs over the Taiwan Strait remained organized along the rainband and propagated toward the southeast quadrant of the Fanapi circulation over land by the tangential flow. These organized VHTs in the southeast quadrant help transport cyclonic vorticity from lower into middle levels and then cooperate with the rich vorticity within the rainband by horizontal vorticity advection to rebuild the Fanapi eyewall upward from the bottom. The vorticity balance within the entire Fanapi circulation is largely dominated by its southeast quadrant with organized VHTs over Taiwan Island. In the simulation with no latent heat release, the VHTs quickly decay and radiate outward from the eyewall as gravity‐wave perturbations.

Why was the arid and semiarid northwest China getting wetter in the recent decades?

AbstractThe arid and semiarid northwest China has experienced a significant wetting trend in summer during 1961–2010, but the reasons remain ambiguous. In this study, moisture budget analysis is employed to quantify the contributions of different factors to the wetting trend. The results show that more than 50% of the increasing precipitation is balanced by the increased evaporation. The convergence of moisture flux (the sum of horizontal moisture advection and wind convergence terms) has a significant positive contribution to the wetting trend. The increased net surface radiation, which is contributed by the increased downward longwave radiation, supplies more energy to favor the evaporation process of vaporization. The moisture flux convergence is further separated into thermodynamic component in association with changes in specific humidity and dynamic component due to changes in atmospheric circulation. The thermodynamic contribution to the wetting trend is induced by the increased specific humidity which is associated with enhanced evaporation. The dynamic contribution is dominated by an anomalous cyclone over central Asia. The anomalous cyclone is related with intensified horizontal vorticity advection which is associated with a significant southward displacement of Asian subtropical westerly jet. The results indicate that the changes of evaporation against the background of global warming deserve more attention in projecting the climate change in arid and semiarid regions.

Ageostrophic Secondary Circulation in a Subtropical Intrathermocline Eddy

AbstractVertical motions play a key role in the enhancement of primary production within mesoscale eddies through the introduction of nutrients into the euphotic layer. However, the details of the vertical velocity field w driving these enhancements remain under discussion. For the first time the mesoscale w associated with an intrathermocline eddy is computed and analyzed using in situ high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) fields of density and horizontal velocity by resolving a generalized omega equation valid for high Rossby numbers. In the seasonal pycnocline the diagnosed w reveals a multipolar structure with upwelling and downwelling cells located at the eddy periphery. In the main pycnocline w is characterized by a dipolar structure with downwelling velocities upstream of the propagation path and upwelling velocities downstream. Maximum values of w reach 6.4 m day−1. An observed enhancement of chlorophyll-a at the eddy periphery coincides with the location of the upwelling and downwelling cells. Analysis of the forcing terms of the generalized omega equation indicates that the mechanisms behind the dipolar structure of the w field are a combination of horizontal deformation and advection of vertical relative vorticity by ageostrophic vertical shear. The wind during the eddy sampling was rather constant and uniform with a speed of 5 m s−1. Diagnosed nonlinear Ekman pumping leads to a dipolar pattern that mirrors the inferred w. Horizontal ageostrophic secondary circulation is dominated by centripetal acceleration and closes the dipole w structure. Vertical fluxes act to maintain the intrathermocline eddy structure.

Influences of Large-Scale Flow Variations on the Track Evolution of Typhoons Morakot (2009) and Megi (2010): Simulations with a Global Variable-Resolution Model

AbstractInfluences of large-scale flow variations on the track evolution of two typhoons, moderate Morakot (2009) and superintense Megi (2010), are investigated using the global variable-resolution model MPAS with a higher-resolution region of 15 km for the simulated typhoons. For Morakot, the associated track and extreme rainfall over southern Taiwan captured by MPAS compared well with the regional WRF simulations. To isolate the influences of various large-scale flows, three modes are filtered out from global reanalysis: the synoptic-scale mode, quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBW) mode, and the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) mode. In the absence of QBW or MJO, the simulated Morakot moves westward across Taiwan without the observed north turn after landfall. When the intensity of the MJO mode is increased by 50% in the experiment (MJO+50%), a much earlier northward turn is induced. The simulated Morakot under the observed MJO lies in between MJO+50% and MJO−50% results. The MJO variations also show similar impacts on the track evolution of Typhoon Megi.The wavenumber-1 decompositions of vorticity budget terms are shown to highlight important contributions to the vorticity tendency and typhoon translation with and without the MJO. The northward turn of both typhoons in the presence of the MJO is mainly in response to positive horizontal vorticity advection to the north of the typhoon center. However, vorticity tilting is relatively more important for Morakot due to its slantwise structure. Furthermore, positive vorticity stretching and vertical advection are significant in the vicinity of southern Taiwan due to the effects of the Central Mountain Range and tend to retard the departing Morakot.

Orographic Influence on Basic Flow and Cyclone Circulation and Their Impacts on Track Deflection of an Idealized Tropical Cyclone

Abstract A series of idealized numerical experiments and vorticity budget analyses is performed to examine several mechanisms proposed in previous studies to help understand the orographic influence on track deflection over a mesoscale mountain range. When an idealized tropical cyclone (TC) is embedded in a uniform, easterly flow and passes over a mountain with a moderate Froude number, it is deflected to the south upstream, moves over the mountain anticyclonically, and then resumes its westward movement. The vorticity budget analysis indicates that the TC movement can be predicted by the maximum vorticity tendency (VT). The orographic effects on the above TC track deflection are explained by the following: 1) Upstream of the mountain, the easterly basic flow is decelerated as a result of orographic blocking that causes the flow to become subgeostrophic, which advects the TC to the southwest, analogous to the advection of a point vortex embedded in a flow. The VT is primarily dominated by the horizontal vorticity advection. 2) The TC passes over the mountain anticyclonically, mainly steered by the orographically generated high pressure. This makes the TC move southwestward (northwestward) over the upslope (lee slope). The VT is mainly contributed by the horizontal vorticity advection with additional contributions from vorticity stretching and the residual term (which includes friction and subgrid turbulence mixing). 3) Over the lee slope and downstream of the mountain, the northwestward movement is enhanced by asymmetric diabatic heating, making the turning more abrupt. 4) Far downstream of the mountain, the VT is mainly contributed by the horizontal vorticity advection.

Effects of Landfall Location and Approach Angle of an Idealized Tropical Cyclone over a Long Mountain Range

Effects of landfall location and approach angle on track deflection associated with a tropical cyclone (TC) passing over an idealized and Central Appalachian Mountain is investigated by a series of idealized numerical experiments. When the TC landfalls on the central portion of the mountain range, it is deflected to the south upstream, passes over the mountain anticyclonically, and then moves westward downstream. The TC motion is steered by the positive vorticity tendency (VT) which is dominated by horizontal vorticity advection upstream and downstream, but with additional influence from the stretching and residual terms, which are mainly associated with diabatic heating and frictional effects. The track deflection mechanism upstream and downstream is similar to the dry flow in previous study, but is very different in the vicinity of the mountain. When the TC landfalls near the northern (southern) tip, it experiences less (more) southward deflection due to stronger (weaker) vorticity advection around the tip. When the TC approaches the mountain range from the southeast and landfalls on the northern tip, center, or southern tip, the track deflections are similar to those embedded in an easterly flow but with weaker orographic blocking. These results are similar to the cases simulated in the dry flow in previous study, except that there is no track discontinuity due to the weaker orographic blocking associated with strong TC convection. When a TC moves along the north-south mountain range from the south, it tends to deflect toward the mountain and then crosses over to the other side at later time. In these cases, the positive VT is influenced by all horizontal vorticity advection, vorticity stretching (diabatic heating) and residual (friction) terms due to longer and stronger interaction with the mountain range. The vorticity stretching is mainly caused by diabatic heating in the moist flow, instead of by lee slope vorticity stretching in the previous study for dry flow.