Axisymmetric Hurricane in a Dry Atmosphere: Theoretical Framework and Numerical Experiments

This paper discusses the possible existence of hurricanes in an atmosphere without water vapor and analyzes the dynamic and thermodynamic structures of simulated hurricane-like storms in moist and dry environments. It is first shown that the “potential intensity” theory for axisymmetric hurricanes i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the atmospheric sciences 2011-08, Vol.68 (8), p.1607-1619
Main Authors: MROWIEC, Agnieszka A, GARNER, Stephen T, PAULUIS, Olivier M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmosphere
Axisymmetric
Computer simulation
Drying
Earth, ocean, space
Energy
Entropy
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Fluid flow
Heat
Hurricanes
Inflow
Maintenance
Mathematical models
Meteorology
Momentum
Momentum flux
Momentum transfer
Numerical experiments
Numerical models
Physics of the high neutral atmosphere
Storms
Studies
Surface energy
Surface properties
Vortices
Water vapor
Water vapour
Wind
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Summary:This paper discusses the possible existence of hurricanes in an atmosphere without water vapor and analyzes the dynamic and thermodynamic structures of simulated hurricane-like storms in moist and dry environments. It is first shown that the “potential intensity” theory for axisymmetric hurricanes is directly applicable to the maintenance of a balanced vortex sustained by a combination of surface energy and momentum flux, even in the absence of water vapor. This theoretical insight is confirmed by simulations with a high-resolution numerical model. The same model is then used to compare dry and moist hurricanes. While it is found that both types of storms exhibit many similarities and fit well within the theoretical framework, there are several differences, most notably in the storm inflow and in the relationship between hurricane size and intensity. Such differences indicate that while water vapor is not necessary for the maintenance of hurricane-like vortices, moist processes directly affect the structure of these storms.
ISSN:0022-4928
1520-0469
DOI:10.1175/2011JAS3639.1