8A.8
Hurricanes at Landfall: Evolution of Structure and Isotope Ratios
Stanley D. Gedzelman, City College of New York, New York, NY; and J. R. Lawrence
Spatial and temporal patterns of stable isotope ratios (HDO:H2O and H218O:H2O) of rains and water vapor in Hurricanes Danny (1997), Bonnie, (1998), Georges (1998), and Floyd (1999) upon landfall are presented and related to the changes in storm structure. Growing asymmetries in the pattern of stable isotope ratios, typically with lower values to the left of the storm track are shown to reflect the concurrent changes of storm structure and the increasing distance of air trajectories to the oceanic water supply. Particular attention is focused on Hurricane Floyd, where relatively high values of isotope ratios ahead of the storm track are related to convective rain and overrunning at low levels while extremely low values of isotope ratios at the western edge of the rain shield are related to a high level updraft associated with a stationary front that formed along the storm track.
Session 8A, Tropical Cyclones at Landfall (Parallel with Session 8B, 8C, and 8D)
Wednesday, 1 May 2002, 8:30 AM-10:45 AM
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