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(QBO) Impact on the Boreal Winter Polar Vortex
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2019-1119 Preprint. Discussion started: 14 January 2020 c Author(s) 2020. CC BY 4.0 License. A tropospheric pathway of the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) impact on the boreal winter polar vortex Koji Yamazaki1, Tetsu Nakamura1, Jinro Ukita2, and Kazuhira Hoshi3 5 1Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan 2Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan 3Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan 10 Correspondence to: Koji Yamazaki ([email protected]) Abstract. The quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) is quasi-periodic oscillation of the tropical zonal wind in the stratosphere. When the tropical lower stratospheric wind is easterly (westerly), the winter Northern Hemisphere (NH) stratospheric polar vortex tends to be weak (strong). This relation is known as Holton-Tan relationship. Several mechanisms for this relationship have been proposed, especially linking the tropics with high-latitudes through stratospheric pathway. Although QBO impacts 15 on the troposphere have been extensively discussed, a tropospheric pathway of the Holton-Tan relationship has not been explored previously. We here propose a tropospheric pathway of the QBO impact, which may partly account for the Holton- Tan relationship in early winter, especially in the November-December period. The study is based on analyses on observational data and results from a simple linear model and atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) simulations. The mechanism is summarized as follows: the easterly phase of the QBO is accompanied with colder temperature in the 20 tropical tropopause layer, which enhances convective activity over the tropical western Pacific and suppresses over the Indian Ocean, thus enhancing the Walker circulation. -
Portugal – an Atlantic Extreme Weather Lab
Portugal – an Atlantic extreme weather lab Nuno Moreira ([email protected]) 6th HIGH-LEVEL INDUSTRY-SCIENCE-GOVERNMENT DIALOGUE ON ATLANTIC INTERACTIONS ALL-ATLANTIC SUMMIT ON INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE MARINE DEVELOPMENT AND THE BLUE ECONOMY: FOSTERING ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD 7th October 2020 Portugal in the track of extreme extra-tropical storms Spatial distribution of positions where rapid cyclogenesis reach their minimum central pressure ECMWF ERA 40 (1958-2000) Events per DJFM season: Source: Trigo, I., 2006: Climatology and interannual variability of storm-tracks in the Euro-Atlantic sector: a comparison between ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR reanalyses. Climate Dynamics volume 26, pages127–143. Portugal in the track of extreme extra-tropical storms Spatial distribution of positions where rapid cyclogenesis reach their minimum central pressure Azores and mainland Portugal On average: 1 rapid cyclogenesis every 1 or 2 wet seasons ECMWF ERA 40 (1958-2000) Events per DJFM season: Source: Trigo, I., 2006: Climatology and interannual variability of storm-tracks in the Euro-Atlantic sector: a comparison between ERA-40 and NCEP/NCAR reanalyses. Climate Dynamics volume 26, pages127–143. … affected by sting jets of extra-tropical storms… Example of a rapid cyclogenesis with a sting jet over mainland 00:00 UTC, 23 Dec 2009 Source: Pinto, P. and Belo-Pereira, M., 2020: Damaging Convective and Non-Convective Winds in Southwestern Iberia during Windstorm Xola. Atmosphere, 11(7), 692. … affected by sting jets of extra-tropical storms… Example of a rapid cyclogenesis with a sting jet over mainland Maximum wind gusts: Official station 140 km/h Private station 00:00 UTC, 23 Dec 2009 203 km/h (in the most affected area) Source: Pinto, P. -
Reducing Tornado Fatalities Outside Traditional “Tornado
Reducing Tornado Fatalities Outside Traditional “Tornado Alley” Erin A. Thead May 2016 Introduction Atmospheric scientists have long suspected that climate change produces an increase in weather extremes of all varieties, but tornadoes are an unusually tricky case. A recent publication from the National Academy of Sciences summarizes the state of the art in the new discipline of event attribution, finding that that, although tornadoes are among the most difficult extreme weather events attribute to anthropogenic climate change, improvements in modeling and climate-weather model coupling have made possible some degree of probabilistic attribution.1 At present it seems likely that the influence of climate change on tornadoes is indirect, manifested largely by more direct influences on natural climate cycles such as the amplitude of waves in the jet stream that bounds the polar vortex and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with which severe tornado seasons and their predominant locations have been loosely linked.2,3 Researchers are not yet in a position to say for sure what if any role climate change has played in the increases in tornado frequency and severity we have seen over the past 50 years.4 However, we need not wait until these issues are sorted out to begin working to protect vulnerable populations. In what follows, I first give some background on the increasingly significant threat posed by tornadoes and then outline some proactive steps governments and other entities can take to keep people safe. A Disturbing Trend A disturbing trend has already developed concerning tornado fatalities. After several decades of decline that can largely be credited to a great increase in forecasting skills and warning lead time, the United States fatality rate for tornadoes has leveled off, although there may have been a slight increase in recent years. -
Observed Cyclone–Anticyclone Tropopause Vortex Asymmetries
JANUARY 2005 H A K I M A N D CANAVAN 231 Observed Cyclone–Anticyclone Tropopause Vortex Asymmetries GREGORY J. HAKIM AND AMELIA K. CANAVAN University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (Manuscript received 30 September 2003, in final form 28 June 2004) ABSTRACT Relatively little is known about coherent vortices near the extratropical tropopause, even with regard to basic facts about their frequency of occurrence, longevity, and structure. This study addresses these issues through an objective census of observed tropopause vortices. The authors test a hypothesis regarding vortex-merger asymmetry where cyclone pairs are repelled and anticyclone pairs are attracted by divergent flow due to frontogenesis. Emphasis is placed on arctic vortices, where jet stream influences are weaker, in order to facilitate comparisons with earlier idealized numerical simulations. Results show that arctic cyclones are more numerous, persistent, and stronger than arctic anticyclones. An average of 15 cyclonic vortices and 11 anticyclonic vortices are observed per month, with maximum frequency of occurrence for cyclones (anticyclones) during winter (summer). There are are about 47% more cyclones than anticyclones that survive at least 4 days, and for longer lifetimes, 1-day survival probabilities are nearly constant at 65% for cyclones, and 55% for anticyclones. Mean tropopause potential-temperature amplitude is 13 K for cyclones and 11 K for anticyclones, with cyclones exhibiting a greater tail toward larger values. An analysis of close-proximity vortex pairs reveals divergence between cyclones and convergence be- tween anticyclones. This result agrees qualitatively with previous idealized numerical simulations, although it is unclear to what extent the divergent circulations regulate vortex asymmetries. -
Idealised Simulations of Stingjet Cyclones
Idealised simulations of sting-jet cyclones Article Published Version Baker, L. H., Gray, S. L. and Clark, P. A. (2014) Idealised simulations of sting-jet cyclones. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 140 (678). pp. 96-110. ISSN 1477-870X doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2131 Available at http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/33269/ It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from the work. Published version at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/qj.2131/full To link to this article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/qj.2131 Publisher: Royal Meteorological Society All outputs in CentAUR are protected by Intellectual Property Rights law, including copyright law. Copyright and IPR is retained by the creators or other copyright holders. Terms and conditions for use of this material are defined in the End User Agreement . www.reading.ac.uk/centaur CentAUR Central Archive at the University of Reading Reading's research outputs online Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc. (2013) Idealised simulations of sting-jet cyclones L. H. Baker,* S. L. Gray and P. A. Clark Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK *Correspondence to: L. H. Baker, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 243, Reading RG6 6BB, UK. E-mail: [email protected] An idealised modelling study of sting-jet cyclones is presented. Sting jets are descend- ing mesoscale jets that occur in some extratropical cyclones and produce localised regions of strong low-level winds in the frontal fracture region. -
Ex-Hurricane Ophelia 16 October 2017
Ex-Hurricane Ophelia 16 October 2017 On 16 October 2017 ex-hurricane Ophelia brought very strong winds to western parts of the UK and Ireland. This date fell on the exact 30th anniversary of the Great Storm of 16 October 1987. Ex-hurricane Ophelia (named by the US National Hurricane Center) was the second storm of the 2017-2018 winter season, following Storm Aileen on 12 to 13 September. The strongest winds were around Irish Sea coasts, particularly west Wales, with gusts of 60 to 70 Kt or higher in exposed coastal locations. Impacts The most severe impacts were across the Republic of Ireland, where three people died from falling trees (still mostly in full leaf at this time of year). There was also significant disruption across western parts of the UK, with power cuts affecting thousands of homes and businesses in Wales and Northern Ireland, and damage reported to a stadium roof in Barrow, Cumbria. Flights from Manchester and Edinburgh to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were cancelled, and in Wales some roads and railway lines were closed. Ferry services between Wales and Ireland were also disrupted. Storm Ophelia brought heavy rain and very mild temperatures caused by a southerly airflow drawing air from the Iberian Peninsula. Weather data Ex-hurricane Ophelia moved on a northerly track to the west of Spain and then north along the west coast of Ireland, before sweeping north-eastwards across Scotland. The sequence of analysis charts from 12 UTC 15 to 12 UTC 17 October shows Ophelia approaching and tracking across Ireland and Scotland. -
The North Atlantic Variability Structure, Storm Tracks, and Precipitation Depending on the Polar Vortex Strength
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 239–248, 2005 www.atmos-chem-phys.org/acp/5/239/ Atmospheric SRef-ID: 1680-7324/acp/2005-5-239 Chemistry European Geosciences Union and Physics The North Atlantic variability structure, storm tracks, and precipitation depending on the polar vortex strength K. Walter1 and H.-F. Graf1,2 1Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology, Bundesstrasse 54, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany 2Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Cambridge, Dept. Geography, Cambridge, CB2 3EN, UK Received: 10 June 2004 – Published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss.: 5 October 2004 Revised: 7 December 2004 – Accepted: 27 January 2005 – Published: 1 February 2005 Abstract. Motivated by the strong evidence that the state 1 Introduction of the northern hemisphere vortex in boreal winter influ- ences tropospheric variability, teleconnection patterns over During boreal winter the climate in large parts of the North- the North Atlantic are defined separately for winter episodes ern Hemisphere is under the influence of the North Atlantic where the zonal wind at 50 hPa and 65◦ N is above or below Oscillation (NAO). The latter constitutes the dominant mode the critical velocity for vertical propagation of zonal plane- of tropospheric variability in the North Atlantic region in- tary wave 1. We argue that the teleconnection structure in the cluding the North American East Coast and Europe, with ex- middle and upper troposphere differs considerably between tensions to Siberia and the Eastern Mediterranean. The NAO the two regimes of the polar vortex, while this is not the case is characterised by a meridional oscillation of mass between at sea level. If the polar vortex is strong, there exists one two major centres of action over the subtropical Atlantic and meridional dipole structure of geopotential height in the up- near Iceland: the Azores High and the Iceland Low. -
Interaction of Tropical Cyclones with a Dipole Vortex
Chapter 2 Interaction of Tropical Cyclones with a Dipole Vortex Ismael Perez‐Garcia, Alejandro Aguilar‐Sierra and Jaime Hernández Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/65953 Abstract The purpose of this chapter is to discuss certain disturbances around the pole of a Venus–type planet that result as a response to barotropic instability processes in a zonal flow. We discuss a linear instability of normal modes in a zonal flow through the barotropic vorticity equations (BVEs). By using a simple idealization of a zonal flow, the instability is employed on measurements of the upper atmosphere of Venus. In 1998, the tropical cyclone Mitch gave way to the observational study of a dipole vortex. This dipole vortex might have helped to intensify the cyclone and moved it towards the SW. In order to examine this process of interaction, the nonlinear BVE was integrated in time applied to the 800–200 hPa average layer in the previous moment when it moved towards the SW. The 2-day integrations carried out with the model showed that the geometric structure of the solution can be calculated to a good approximation. The solution HLC moves very fast westwards as observed. On October 27, the HLA headed north-eastward and then became quasi-stationary. It was also observed that HLA and HLC as a coupled system rotates in the clockwise direction. Keywords: polar vortices Venus, barotropic vorticity equation, normal mode instabil- ity, tropical cyclone, American monsoon system. 1. Introduction The air at the equatorial regions rises when heated by the sun and as it does, it cools down and sinks. -
The Effects of Diabatic Heating on Upper
THE EFFECTS OF DIABATIC HEATING ON UPPER- TROPOSPHERIC ANTICYCLOGENESIS by Ross A. Lazear A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences) at the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON 2007 i Abstract The role of diabatic heating in the development and maintenance of persistent, upper- tropospheric, large-scale anticyclonic anomalies in the subtropics (subtropical gyres) and middle latitudes (blocking highs) is investigated from the perspective of potential vorticity (PV) non-conservation. The low PV within blocking anticyclones is related to condensational heating within strengthening upstream synoptic-scale systems. Additionally, the associated convective outflow from tropical cyclones (TCs) is shown to build upper- tropospheric, subtropical anticyclones. Not only do both of these large-scale flow phenomena have an impact on the structure and dynamics of neighboring weather systems, and consequently the day-to-day weather, the very persistence of these anticyclones means that they have a profound influence on the seasonal climate of the regions in which they exist. A blocking index based on the meridional reversal of potential temperature on the dynamic tropopause is used to identify cases of wintertime blocking in the North Atlantic from 2000-2007. Two specific cases of blocking are analyzed, one event from February 1983, and another identified using the index, from January 2007. Parallel numerical simulations of these blocking events, differing only in one simulation’s neglect of the effects of latent heating of condensation (a “fake dry” run), illustrate the importance of latent heating in the amplification and wave-breaking of both blocking events. -
As Diagnosed with a Generalized Omega Equation and Vorticity Equation
Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography ISSN: (Print) 1600-0870 (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/zela20 The extratropical transition of Hurricane Ophelia (2017) as diagnosed with a generalized omega equation and vorticity equation Mika Rantanen, Jouni Räisänen, Victoria A. Sinclair, Juha Lento & Heikki Järvinen To cite this article: Mika Rantanen, Jouni Räisänen, Victoria A. Sinclair, Juha Lento & Heikki Järvinen (2020) The extratropical transition of Hurricane Ophelia (2017) as diagnosed with a generalized omega equation and vorticity equation, Tellus A: Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography, 72:1, 1-26, DOI: 10.1080/16000870.2020.1721215 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/16000870.2020.1721215 Tellus A: 2020. © 2020 The Author(s). View supplementary material Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Published online: 03 Feb 2020. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 504 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=zela20 SERIES A DYANAMIC METEOROLOGY Tellus AND OCEANOGRAPHY PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE IN STOCKHOLM The extratropical transition of Hurricane Ophelia (2017) as diagnosed with a generalized omega equation and vorticity equation 1Ã 1 1 2 By MIKA RANTANEN , JOUNI RÄISÄNEN , VICTORIA A. SINCLAIR , JUHA LENTO , and HEIKKI JÄRVINEN1, 1Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; 2CSC–IT Center for Science, Espoo, Finland (Manuscript Received 14 June 2019; in final form 20 November 2019) ABSTRACT Hurricane Ophelia was a category 3 hurricane which underwent extratropical transition and made landfall in Europe as an exceptionally strong post-tropical cyclone in October 2017. -
The Extratropical Transition of Hurricane Ophelia (2017) As Diagnosed with a Generalized Omega Equation and Vorticity Equation
The extratropical transition of Hurricane Ophelia (2017) as diagnosed with a generalized omega equation and vorticity equation 1 1 1 1 Mika Rantanen , Jouni Räisänen , Victoria A. Sinclair and Heikki Järvinen 1 I nstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Hurricane Ophelia was a category 3 hurricane which underwent an extratropical transition and made landfall in Europe as an exceptionally strong post-tropical cyclone in October 2017. In Ireland, for instance, Ophelia was the worst storm in 50 years and resulted in significant damage and loss of life. In this study, the different physical processes affecting Ophelia’s transformation from a hurricane to a mid-latitude cyclone are studied. For this purpose, we have developed software which uses OpenIFS model output and a system consisting of a generalized omega equation and vorticity equation. By using these two equations, the atmospheric vertical motion and vorticity tendency are separated into the contributions from different physical processes: vorticity advection, thermal advection, friction, diabatic heating, and the imbalance between the temperature and vorticity tendencies. Vorticity advection, which is often considered an important forcing for the development of mid-latitude cyclones, is shown to play a small role in the re-intensification of Ophelia as an extratropical storm. This is because the effects of divergent and non-divergent components of vorticity advection mainly cancelled each other out, resulting in a net effect close to zero. However, our results show that diabatic heating was the dominate forcing in both the tropical and extratropical phases of Ophelia. Furthermore, we calculated in more detail the diabatic heating contributions from different model parameterizations. -
Supplement of Storm Xaver Over Europe in December 2013: Overview of Energy Impacts and North Sea Events
Supplement of Adv. Geosci., 54, 137–147, 2020 https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-54-137-2020-supplement © Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Supplement of Storm Xaver over Europe in December 2013: Overview of energy impacts and North Sea events Anthony James Kettle Correspondence to: Anthony James Kettle ([email protected]) The copyright of individual parts of the supplement might differ from the CC BY 4.0 License. SECTION I. Supplement figures Figure S1. Wind speed (10 minute average, adjusted to 10 m height) and wind direction on 5 Dec. 2013 at 18:00 GMT for selected station records in the National Climate Data Center (NCDC) database. Figure S2. Maximum significant wave height for the 5–6 Dec. 2013. The data has been compiled from CEFAS-Wavenet (wavenet.cefas.co.uk) for the UK sector, from time series diagrams from the website of the Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrolographie (BSH) for German sites, from time series data from Denmark's Kystdirektoratet website (https://kyst.dk/soeterritoriet/maalinger-og-data/), from RWS (2014) for three Netherlands stations, and from time series diagrams from the MIROS monthly data reports for the Norwegian platforms of Draugen, Ekofisk, Gullfaks, Heidrun, Norne, Ormen Lange, Sleipner, and Troll. Figure S3. Thematic map of energy impacts by Storm Xaver on 5–6 Dec. 2013. The platform identifiers are: BU Buchan Alpha, EK Ekofisk, VA? Valhall, The wind turbine accident letter identifiers are: B blade damage, L lightning strike, T tower collapse, X? 'exploded'. The numbers are the number of customers (households and businesses) without power at some point during the storm.