11.3
Toward a Fully Coupled Atmosphere-Wave-Ocean Hurricane Prediction Model
Shuyi S. Chen, University of Miami, Miami, FL; and W. Zhao, J. E. Tenerelli, and M. Donelan
Over the last a few decades hurricane track forecasts have improved significantly, whereas very little progress made in hurricane intensity forecasts. The lack of the skill in the intensity forecasts may be attributed to deficiencies in the current prediction models: insufficient horizontal resolution, inadequate surface and boundary layer formulations, and no full coupling to the ocean. The extreme high winds, intense rainfall, large ocean waves, and copious sea spray push the surface-exchange parameters for temperature, water vapor, and momentum into untested new regimes. To resolve the hurricane eyewall structure, crucial in intensity forecasting, the horizontal resolution need to be at 1-2 km. The air-sea interaction in the eyewall region is largely unknown with very little observations. While hurricanes draw energy from the ocean surface, they cool the ocean by wind-induced surface fluxes and vertical mixing. Hypotheses have been put forward to address the ocean feedback on hurricane intensity. However, the current results remain inconclusive. The enthalpy and momentum exchange coefficients under the high-wind conditions are difficult to determine. The stress is supported mainly by waves in the wavelength range of 0.1-10 m, which are unresolved by wave models. Rapid increase in computer power and recent advance in technology in observations have made it possible for us to develop a strategy for the next generation of hurricane prediction models. We begin by examing key parameterizations, e.g., effects of the wave "spectral tail" on drag coefficient, the source term for sea spray, and subgrid-scale turbulence at 1-2 km resolution. The components of the coupled model system are the PSU/NCAR MM5, WAVEWATCH3, and the University of Miami HYCOM. Model simulation of Hurricane Floyd (1999) is compared with observations of surface wave spectra, surface fluxes, and vertical profiles of atmospheric boundary layer and ocean mixed layer from recent hurricane field programs.
Session 11, Hurricane Dynamics and modeling
Thursday, 2 August 2001, 8:00 AM-9:14 AM
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