Effect of the Initial Vortex Structure on Intensity Change During Eyewall Replacement Cycle of Tropical Cyclones: A Numerical Study

This study investigates the effect of the initial tropical cyclone (TC) vortex structure on the intensity change during the eyewall replacement cycle (ERC) of TCs based on two idealized simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Results show that an initially smaller TC with weaker outer winds experienced a much more drastic intensity change during the ERC than an initially larger TC with stronger outer winds. It is found that an initially larger TC vortex with stronger outer winds favored the development of more active spiral rainbands outside the outer eyewall, which slowed down the contraction and intensification of the outer eyewall and thus prolonged the duration of the concentric eyewall and slow intensity evolution. In contrast, the initially smaller TC with weaker outer winds corresponded to higher inertial stability in the inner core and weaker inertial stability but stronger filamentation outside the outer eyewall. These led to stronger boundary layer inflow, stronger updraft and convection in the outer eyewall, and suppressed convective activity outside the outer eyewall. These resulted in the rapid weakening during the formation of the outer eyewall, followed by a rapid re-intensification of the TC during the ERC. Our study demonstrates that accurate in- itialization of the TC structure in numerical models is crucial for predicting changes in TC intensity during the ERC. Additionally, monitoring the activity of spiral rainbands outside the outer eyewall can help to improve short-term intensity forecasts for TCs experiencing ERCs.     

环境引导气流两类典型年际模态与西北太平洋热带气旋活动的联系

本文基于中国气象局上海台风研究所整编的热带气旋（Tropical Cyclone, TC）最佳路径资料及美国NCEP/NCAR月平均再分析资料,采用经验正交函数分解、合成分析、相关分析等统计方法,分析了1979-2016年7-9月西北太平洋地区海盆尺度大尺度环境引导气流的年际变化与热带气旋活动之间的联系。结果表明：（1）西北太平洋地区夏季大尺度环境引导气流在年际尺度上存在两个典型模态。其中第一典型模态大尺度环境引导气流呈现经向分布的偶极型环流型,该模态与东部型ENSO密切相关;第二典型模态大尺度环境引导气流呈明显的局地反气旋环流形态,其与中部型ENSO和热带大西洋海温异常紧密关联。（2）大尺度环境引导气流第一典型模态异常年份之间TC活动（生成位置、路径、强度和持续时间）具有显著差异,TC生成空间分布南北差异显著;TC路径尤其西北行和西行盛行路径也具有显著差异。（3）第二典型模态异常年份之间,TC生成位置和路径差异与第一模态呈现显著不同,TC生成位置呈现较为明显的东西向分布,在东南象限TC生成差异尤为显著,TC路径的差异主要体现在西北行和近海转向两类盛行路径。