Open AccessFactors contributing to tornadogenesis in landfalling Gulf of Mexico tropical cyclones
Author(s) -
Rhodes Cory L.,
Senkbeil Jason C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
meteorological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1469-8080
pISSN - 1350-4827
DOI - 10.1002/met.1437
Subject(s) - tornado , tropical cyclone , climatology , tropical cyclone rainfall forecasting , storm , tropical cyclone scales , cyclone (programming language) , environmental science , severe weather , meteorology , geology , geography , engineering , field programmable gate array , embedded system
ABSTRACT Tropical cyclone tornadoes (TCTs) are brief and often unpredictable events that can produce fatalities and create considerable economic loss. Given these uncertainties, it is important to understand the characteristics and factors that contribute to tornado formation within tropical cyclones. This research analyses this hazardous phenomenon, examining the relationships among tropical cyclone intensity, size and tornado output. Furthermore, the influences of severe weather parameters on tornado output near the time of tornado formation were assessed between two phases of a tropical cyclone's life cycle: during hurricane and tropical storm intensity, termed tropical cyclone tornadoes ( TCTs ), and during tropical depression and remnant low intensity, termed tropical low tornadoes ( TLTs ). Results show that tornado output is significantly influenced by tropical cyclone intensity. Values for storm relative helicity, energy helicity index, and severe weather threat index are significantly higher within TCT environments, thus resulting in more tornadoes.