Premium
A statistical analysis of vertical shear effect on tropical cyclone intensity change in the North Atlantic
Author(s) -
Zeng Zhihua,
Wang Yuqing,
Chen Lianshou
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2009gl041788
Subject(s) - wind shear , troposphere , tropical cyclone , climatology , geology , latitude , atmospheric sciences , shear (geology) , intensity (physics) , environmental science , wind speed , geodesy , physics , oceanography , optics , petrology
Based on the best track data of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the North Atlantic and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis during 1981–2008,the effect of vertical wind shear (VWS) between different vertical levels and with different directions of shear on TC intensity change for TCs of different intensities, translational speeds, and latitudes were statistically analyzed. The results show that TC intensity change and VWS are generally negatively correlated, indicating the overall negative effect of VWS on TC intensity. The strong, slow moving, and low latitude TCs are strongly affected by VWS in a deep layer, while the weak, fast moving, and high latitude TCs are subject to strong effect by VWS in the mid‐lower troposphere. Furthermore, overall easterly shear, especially in the mid‐lower troposphere, has considerably weaker effects on TC intensity change than westerly shear because part of the easterly shear could be offset by the beta‐induced northwesterly shear.