African easterly wave dynamics in a full-physics numerical model

We use the full-physics NCAR Weather research and forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model to examine the dominant physical process that account for the growth and maintenance of African easterly waves (AEWs). This model is run using real cases from 2004 to 2006, including some cases from the AMMA SOP and is initialized from NCEP analyses. Preliminary results indicate the model forecast performance is on par with current generation operational forecast model and is capable of generating realistic synoptic and mesoscale features. Examination of the principle energy conversions (following Moore and Montgomery, 2005) and potential vorticity (PV) tendencies show the evolution is governed by both adiabatic and diabatic processes with the latter becoming dominant during the later phases of the AEW lifecycle. The work shown here will highlight the mechanisms that lead to the intensification of the system and that focus organized convection within the AEW.