Chapter 11: Influence of Cloud Microphysics and Radiation on Tropical Cyclone Structure and Motion

The authors survey a series of modeling studies that have examined the influences that cloud microphysical processes can have on tropical cyclone (TC) motion, the strength and breadth of the wind field, inner-core diabatic heating asymmetries, outer-core convective activity, and the characteristics...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Multiscale Convection-Coupled Systems in the Tropics 2016, Vol.56, p.11_1-11_27
Main Authors: Fovell, Robert G, Bu, Yizhe Peggy, Corbosiero, Kristen L, Tung, Wen-Wen, Cao, Yang, Kuo, Hung-Chi, Hsu, Li-Huan, Su, Hui
Format: Web Resource
Language:English
Subjects:
Anvil clouds
Beta drift
Cloud microphysics
Convective activity
Cyclone structure
Diabatic heating
Hurricanes
Hydrometeors
Long wave radiation
Meteorology
Microphysics
Precipitation
Radiation
Radiative forcing
Tropical cyclone structure
Tropical cyclones
Wind
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Summary:The authors survey a series of modeling studies that have examined the influences that cloud microphysical processes can have on tropical cyclone (TC) motion, the strength and breadth of the wind field, inner-core diabatic heating asymmetries, outer-core convective activity, and the characteristics of the TC anvil cloud. These characteristics are sensitive to the microphysical parameterization (MP) in large part owing to the cloud-radiative forcing (CRF), the interaction of hydrometeors with radiation. The most influential component of CRF is that due to absorption and emission of longwave radiation in the anvil, which via gentle lifting directly encourages the more extensive convective activity that then leads to a radial expansion of the TC wind field. On a curved Earth, the magnitude of the outer winds helps determine the speed and direction of TC motion via the beta drift. CRF also influences TC motion by determining how convective asymmetries develop in the TC inner core. Further improvements in TC forecasting may require improved understanding and representation of cloud-radiative processes in operational models, and more comprehensive comparisons with observations are clearly needed.
DOI:10.1175/AMSMONOGRAPHS-D-15-0006.1