Open AccessEnvironmental energetics of an exceptional high‐latitude storm
Author(s) -
Pezza Alexandre Bernardes,
Veiga José Augusto Paixão,
Simmonds Ian,
Keay Kevin,
Mesquita Michel dos Santos
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
atmospheric science letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 45
ISSN - 1530-261X
DOI - 10.1002/asl.253
Subject(s) - baroclinity , energetics , storm , storm track , blocking (statistics) , flooding (psychology) , climatology , environmental science , severe weather , meteorology , winter storm , atmospheric sciences , geology , geography , physics , computer science , psychology , computer network , psychotherapist , thermodynamics
This study presents the Lorenz energetics of an exceptional baroclinic storm propagating to Nome (Alaska) in October 1992, where it caused severe flooding. The storm track was greatly influenced by the interaction with a blocking high a week before the cyclone was formed. The energetics gives new insights into this dramatic storm, suggesting that the large‐scale environment was responsible for its long trajectory and intensification. The blocking high also provided the dynamic steering that facilitated the wave propagation and baroclinic growth. Our results show that the environmental energy transfers can be used as an informative metric for severe storms. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society