The Air-Sea Interface and Surface Stress Under Tropical Cyclones

Authors

Alexander Soloviev, Nova Southeastern University; University of MiamiFollow
Roger Lukas, University of Hawaii - Manoa
Mark A. Donelan, University of Miami
Brian K. Haus, University of Miami
Isaac Ginis, University of Rhode Island

ORCID

0000-0001-6519-1547

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Scientific Reports

ISSN

2045-2322

Publication Date

6-16-2014

Keywords

Atmospheric dynamics, Physical oceanography

Abstract

Tropical cyclone track prediction is steadily improving, while storm intensity prediction has seen little progress in the last quarter century. Important physics are not yet well understood and implemented in tropical cyclone forecast models. Missing and unresolved physics, especially at the air-sea interface, are among the factors limiting storm predictions. In a laboratory experiment and coordinated numerical simulation, conducted in this work, the microstructure of the air-water interface under hurricane force wind resembled Kelvin-Helmholtz shear instability between fluids with a large density difference. Supported by these observations, we bring forth the concept that the resulting two-phase environment suppresses short gravity-capillary waves and alters the aerodynamic properties of the sea surface. The unified wave-form and two-phase parameterization model shows the well-known increase of the drag coefficient (C_d) with wind speed, up to ~30 ms⁻¹. Around 60 ms⁻¹, the new parameterization predicts a local peak of C_k/C_d, under constant enthalpy exchange coefficient C_k. This peak may explain rapid intensification of some storms to major tropical cyclones and the previously reported local peak of lifetime maximum intensity (bimodal distribution) in the best-track records. The bimodal distribution of maximum lifetime intensity, however, can also be explained by environmental parameters of tropical cyclones alone.

DOI

10.1038/srep05306

Volume

4

Issue

5306

First Page

1

Last Page

6

Comments

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Additional Comments

NSF grant #: ACS-GEO/ATM 0933943

NSUWorks Citation

Alexander Soloviev, Roger Lukas, Mark A. Donelan, Brian K. Haus, and Isaac Ginis. 2014. The Air-Sea Interface and Surface Stress Under Tropical Cyclones .Scientific Reports , (5306) : 1 -6. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/475.