Cyclogenesis and Tropical Transition in decaying frontal zones

Tropical cyclones can form from many different precursors, including baroclinic systems. While tropical wave or monsoon trough disturbances are most likely to produce tropical cyclones, infrequently tropical cyclogenesis begins with a wave in a decaying front. When such a baroclinically formed system changes from cold core to warm core it has Tropical Transitioned (TT) into a tropical cyclone.

Because not much is known about how a system undergoes TT, it is difficult to predict which baroclinic systems will make the transition and which will not. QuikSCAT and other satellite data are used to study how the initial front changes as cyclogenesis occurs. Determining how part of the front detaches and transitions into a closed warm core system will help to better understand the parameters necessary for TT to occur.

Many TT cases from 2000-2004 are studied in order to determine similarities in frontal wave cyclogenesis and mechanisms used as these systems transition to warm core tropical cyclones.