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

• Other Authors: Visin, Lauren Elizabeth (authoraut), Chagnon, Jeffrey M. (professor directing thesis), Hart, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1972- (committee member), Fuelberg, Henry E. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science (degree granting department)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Meteorology; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_2016SU_Visin_fsu_0071N_13459; http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu%3A366129/datastream/TN/view/Climatological%20Analysis%20of%20the%20Extratropical%20Flow%20Response%20to%20Recurving%20North%20Atlantic%20Tropical%20Cyclones.jpg

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.