Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1259
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1259
17 Jul 2023
 | 17 Jul 2023

On the quasi-steady vorticity balance in the mature stage of hurricane Irma (2017)

Jasper de Jong, Michiel L. J. Baatsen, and Aarnout J. van Delden

Abstract. Tropical cyclone (TC) intensification is a process depending on many factors related to the thermodynamical state and environmental influences. It remains a challenge to accurately model TC intensity due to the role of unsteady features like deep convective bursts, boundary layer dynamics and eddy processes. The impermeability theorem for potential vorticity substance, PVS, on isentropic surfaces provides a way to analyze the absolute vorticity structure and tendency in TCs. We will examine this theorem in a numerical simulation of hurricane Irma (2017) near lifetime-peak intensity. Hurricane Irma was a very intense hurricane that persisted as a category five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale for three consecutive days, the longest for any Atlantic hurricane since satellite observations. During this period the intensity of Irma was remarkably constant. According to the impermeability theorem, the radially outward vorticity flux due to divergence above the atmospheric boundary layer must be compensated by an equally strong radially inward vorticity flux due to the effect of diabatic heating in the presence of vertical wind shear. The model results agree with this theorem and we find a strong anticorrelation between the advective and diabatic components of the radial vorticity flux. The impact of parametrized turbulence on the vorticity balance is found to be weak and does not explain the residual flux that would otherwise close the vorticity balance.

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Jasper de Jong, Michiel L. J. Baatsen, and Aarnout J. van Delden

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1259', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Aug 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Jasper de Jong, 04 Dec 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1259', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Aug 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Jasper de Jong, 04 Dec 2023
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1259', Anonymous Referee #2, 28 Sep 2023
    • AC4: 'Reply on RC3', Jasper de Jong, 04 Dec 2023
  • RC4: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-1259', Anonymous Referee #3, 28 Sep 2023
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC4', Jasper de Jong, 04 Dec 2023
Jasper de Jong, Michiel L. J. Baatsen, and Aarnout J. van Delden
Jasper de Jong, Michiel L. J. Baatsen, and Aarnout J. van Delden

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Short summary
Tropical cyclones often embed a ring-shaped vorticity tower, instead of a centre maximum. Inspired to identify mechanisms in the conservation of such a vorticity structure, we examined the vorticity budget in a simulation of hurricane Irma (2017) near lifetime-peak intensity. Hurricane Irma persisted as a category five hurricane for three consecutive days. We find that vertical exchange of momentum by diabatic heating compensates the advective vorticity loss and eddy activity plays a minor role.