A Climatological Analysis of the Extratropical Flow Response to Recurving North Atlantic Tropical Cyclones

• Other Authors: Visin, Lauren Elizabeth (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Meteorology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_2016SU_Visin_fsu_0071N_13459

This study investigates the response of the extratropical jet to recurving North Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs). A joint climatology of north Atlantic recurving TCs from 2007-2013 and Rossby waves on the extratropical jet is presented. Using a potential vorticity (PV) framework, Rossby wave breaking (RWB) and trough/ridge amplitude were quantified in order to evaluate jet characteristics downstream from recurving TCs. Additionally, the meridional PV gradient was evaluated to attempt to isolate a possible interaction mechanism. The extratropical jet is disturbed downstream of recurving TCs in the week following recurvature. RWB is made more likely in the week following recurvature, while suppression of RWB occurs at recurvature. Both ridge and trough amplitude increase downstream from recurving TCs in the week following recurvature, also supported by ridge amplification in composite PV anomalies. PV gradient modification remains unclear. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. === Summer Semester 2016. === June 30, 2016. === Atlantic, Climatology, Cyclones, Extratropical, Recurving, Tropical === Includes bibliographical references. === Jeffrey M. Chagnon, Professor Directing Thesis; Robert Hart, Committee Member; Henry Fuelberg, Committee Member.