Objective identification of multi-scale vortices in tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclones (TCs) intensity change involves multi-scale (synoptic- to mis-scale) interactions of kinematic and thermodynamic structures. Meso- and miso-vortices have been hypothesized to be ubiquitous in the cores of intense TCs, yet no closed circulations in these regions have been observed. Liutex, an objective Vortex Identification (VI) method that focuses solely on rotation without contamination from shear, can be used to identify whether such features exist. We will investigate and compare TC structures using the new Liutex and Modified Liutex Omega vortex identification methods.