Publication Abstracts

Mrowiec et al. 2011

Mrowiec, A.A., S.T. Garner, and O.M. Pauluis, 2011: Axisymmetric hurricane in a dry atmosphere: Theoretical framework and numerical experiments. J. Atmos. Sci., 68, 1607-1619, doi:10.1175/2011JAS3639.1.

This paper discusses the possible existence of hurricanes in an atmosphere without water vapor, and analyzes the dynamical and thermodynamical structures of simulated hurricane-like storms in moist and dry environments. It is first shown that the "potential intensity" theory for axisymmetric hurricanes is directly applicable to the maintenance of a balanced vortex sustained by a combination of surface energy and momentum flux, even in the absence of water vapor. This theoretical insight is confirmed by simulations with a high resolution numerical model. The same model is then used to compare dry and moist hurricanes. While it is found that both types of storms exhibit many similarities and fit well within the theoretical framework, there are several differences, most notably in the storm inflow and in the relationship between hurricane size and intensity. Such differences indicate that, while water vapor is not necessary for the maintenance of hurricane-like vortices, moist processes directly affect the structure of these storms.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{mr01000b,
  author={Mrowiec, A. A. and Garner, S. T. and Pauluis, O. M.},
  title={Axisymmetric hurricane in a dry atmosphere: Theoretical framework and numerical experiments},
  year={2011},
  journal={Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences},
  volume={68},
  pages={1607--1619},
  doi={10.1175/2011JAS3639.1},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - mr01000b
AU  - Mrowiec, A. A.
AU  - Garner, S. T.
AU  - Pauluis, O. M.
PY  - 2011
TI  - Axisymmetric hurricane in a dry atmosphere: Theoretical framework and numerical experiments
JA  - J. Atmos. Sci.
JO  - Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
VL  - 68
SP  - 1607
EP  - 1619
DO  - 10.1175/2011JAS3639.1
ER  -

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