14th Conference on Interaction of the Sea and Atmosphere
14th Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography

JP1.2

Cyclogenesis and Tropical Transition in decaying frontal zones

Michelle L. Stewart, COAPS, Tallahassee, FL; and M. A. Bourassa

Tropical cyclones can form from many different precursors, including baroclinic systems. While tropical wave or monsoon trough disturbances are most likely to produce tropical cyclones, infrequently tropical cyclogenesis begins with a wave in a decaying front. When such a baroclinically formed system changes from cold core to warm core it has Tropical Transitioned (TT) into a tropical cyclone.

Because not much is known about how a system undergoes TT, it is difficult to predict which baroclinic systems will make the transition and which will not. QuikSCAT and other satellite data are used to study how the initial front changes as cyclogenesis occurs. Determining how part of the front detaches and transitions into a closed warm core system will help to better understand the parameters necessary for TT to occur.

Many TT cases from 2000-2004 are studied in order to determine similarities in frontal wave cyclogenesis and mechanisms used as these systems transition to warm core tropical cyclones.

Joint Poster Session 1, MARINE METEOROLOGICAL APPLICATIONS OF REAL AND SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (Joint between the 14th Conference on Interaction of the Sea and Atmosphere and 14th Conference on Satellite Meteorology and Oceanography )
Tuesday, 31 January 2006, 9:45 AM-9:45 AM, Exhibit Hall A2

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