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Utilization of satellite cloud information to diagnose the energy state and transformations in extratropical cyclonesAn important component of the research was a continuing investigation of the impact of latent release on extratropical cyclone development. Previous efforts to accomplish this task have focused on the energy balance and the vertical motion field of an intense winter extratropical cyclone over the United States. During this fiscal year researchers turned their attention to a more fundamental diagnostic variable, the height tendency. Central to this effort is the use of a modified form of the quasi-geostrophic height tendency equation, in which geostrophic wind components have been replaced by observed winds and a latent heat release term has been added. This methodology was adopted to produce a simple diagnostic model which retains the essential mechanisms of quasi-geostrophic theory but more faithfully describes observed wave development when the Rossby Number approaches and exceeds 0.5. Results to date indicate that the new model yields height tendencies that are superior to those obtained from the quasi-geostrophic formulation and are sufficiently close to the observed tendencies to be a useful tool for diagnosing the principle large-scale forcing mechanisms in th e700-300 mb layer. Of the three forcing terms included in the new model, vortity advection is in general dominant. The most persistent challenge to this dominance is made by the thermal advection. On the whole, latent heat release plays a secondary role. Finally, during the rapid intensification observed for this cyclone, all three processes complement each other in forcing height falls.
Document ID
19870003618
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Smith, P. J.
(Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Marshall Space Flight Center NASA(MSFC FY-85 Atmospheric Processes Research Review
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
87N13051
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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