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The kinetic and available potential energy budget of a winter extratropical cyclone systemThe energy budget of an extratropical cyclone system which traversed North America and intensified through the period January 9-11, 1975 is presented. The objectives of the study are: (1) to document the complete energy budget of a significant winter cyclone event, and (2) to comment on the significance of latent heat release (LHR) in the cyclone's evolution. Results reveal an overall increase in both kinetic (K) and available potential energy (A). K increases are accounted for by boundary flux convergence of K, while A increases are due to generation by LHR and K to A conversion. In addition, the general A increase is accompanied by a 24 h oscillation that is explained largely by the flux quantity in the A budget equation and is correlated with a similar fluctuation in the K to A conversion. LHR does not appear to be critical in the development of this cyclone system. Rather, LHR acts to increase the intensity of the event. It is hypothesized that the direct influence that LHR had on the deepening cyclone's reduced mass was augmented by an indirect influence, in which pre-existing dry dynamical forcing was enhanced by diabatic heating, thus leading to accelerated cyclone development at a later time.
Document ID
19860039981
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Smith, P. J.
(Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Dare, P. M.
(Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Tellus, Series A - Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography
Volume: 38A
ISSN: 0280-6495
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
86A24719
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-34009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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