Abstract
Previous numerical studies have focused on the combined effect of momentum and scalar eddy diffusivity on the intensity and structure of tropical cyclones. The separate impact of eddy diffusivity estimated by planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization on the tropical cyclones has not yet been systematically examined. We have examined the impacts of eddy diffusion of moisture on idealized tropical cyclones using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model with the Yonsei University PBL scheme. Our results show nonlinear effects of moisture eddy diffusivity on the simulation of idealized tropical cyclones. Increasing the eddy diffusion of moisture increases the moisture content of the PBL, with three different effects on tropical cyclones: (1) an decrease in the depth of the PBL; (2) an increase in convection in the inner rain band and eyewall; and (3) drying of the lowest region of the PBL and then increasing the surface latent heat flux. These three processes have different effects on the intensity and structure of the tropical cyclone through various physical mechanisms. The increased surface latent heat flux is mainly responsible for the decrease in pressure. Results show that moisture eddy diffusivity has clear effects on the pressure in tropical cyclones, but contributes little to the intensity of wind. This largely influences the wind-pressure relationship, which is crucial in tropical cyclones simulation. These results improve our understanding of moisture eddy diffusivity in the PBL and its influence on tropical cyclones, and provides guidance for interpreting the variation of moisture in the PBL for tropical cyclone simulations.
摘 要
以往研究表明湍流扩散系数对热带气旋强度和结构有显著影响, 但边界层参数化过程中水汽湍流扩散系数是通过动量扩散系数估算. 目前, 边界层 (PBL) 参数化估算的水汽湍流扩散系数对热带气旋的单独影响尚未得到系统的研究. 本研究利用 WRF 模式 YSU 边界层方案开展理想试验研究水汽湍流扩散系数对热带气旋的影响. 结果表明水汽湍流扩散系数对热带气旋具有非线性影响; 增强边界层水汽混合会引起边界层的水汽含量的增加, 并对热带气旋有三种不同的影响: (1) 边界层高度降低; (2) 内雨带和眼壁的对流增强; (3) 边界层低层变干进而引起地表潜热通量增加. 这三个过程通过不同的物理机制对热带气旋的强度和结构产生影响, 其中地表潜热通量的增加是气压下降的主要原因. 以上结果表明: 水汽湍流扩散系数对热带气旋气压有明显的影响, 但对风速的贡献不大; 这在很大程度上影响了热带气旋的风-压关系, 而风压关系在热带气旋模拟和预报十分重要. 本研究加深了对热带气旋边界层水汽湍流扩散系数影响热带气旋的认识, 揭示边界层水汽变化影响热带气旋强度、 结构的物理机制.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. This study was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 41905095, 41730960 and 61827901 and in part by the National Key R&D Program of China under Grant No. 2017YFC1501602.
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Article Highlights
• Increasing the eddy diffusion of moisture increases the moisture content of the PBL and results in different effects on tropical cyclones.
• The increased surface latent heat flux is mainly responsible for the decrease in pressure.
• Moisture eddy diffusivity has clear effects on the pressure in tropical cyclones, but contributes little to the wind intensity.
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Xu, H., Zhao, D. Effect of the Vertical Diffusion of Moisture in the Planetary Boundary Layer on an Idealized Tropical Cyclone. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 38, 1889–1904 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-021-1016-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-021-1016-z