A 31-yr climatology (1979�2009) and composite analysis of TC�jet stream interactions associated with recurving WNP TCs are conducted. Recurving WNP TC episodes are objectively ranked by the strength of the TC�jet stream interaction (i.e., the magnitude of negative upper-level PV advection by the divergent TC outflow). The top and bottom quintiles of the ranked cases are categorized as strong and weak TC�jet stream interaction cases, respectively. Climatologies for these two categories are constructed to assess factors that are hypothesized to modulate the strength of the TC�jet stream interaction during WNP TC recurvature (e.g., time of year, characteristics of the large-scale flow pattern, TC strength, extent of TC wind field). Interaction-relative composite analyses are created for these two categories to allow for a comparison of the flow response to recurving WNP TCs associated with strong and weak TC�jet stream interactions.
Results indicate that relative to the weak TC�jet stream interaction cases, the strong TC�jet stream interaction cases feature stronger midtropospheric ascent and broader divergent outflow associated with the TC, a more amplified trough�ridge�trough flow pattern, and a more distinct downstream jet streak embedded within a stronger waveguide. A comparison of the downstream large-scale flow evolution for the two categories suggests that the strong interaction cases are associated with the dispersion of higher-amplitude, longer-lived Rossby wave trains across the North Pacific into North America.
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