9A.2
Nonlinear structure and evolution of African easterly waves
Nathan R. Hardin, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8208, NC
Three dimensional isentropic potential vorticity (IPV) fields are
used to describe the structure and evolution of African easterly
waves (AEWs) over the Atlantic. Using gridded data from the European
centre for medium range weather forecasts (ECMF), a census of
localized PV maxima embedded within the waves is created. Composite
horizontal and vertical structure of these localized coherent
structures are examined and measures of non-linearity are computed.
Along track evolution of the vertical and horizontal structures of
select cases are also examined. Numerical experiments using a
barotropic model linearized about observed background IPV states are
performed to contrast the evolution and tracks of idealized disturbances
with those of the observed AEWS.
Session 9A, Tropical Cyclogenesis I: Role of African Easterly Waves
Wednesday, 30 April 2008, 8:00 AM-9:45 AM, Palms GF
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