Drastic change in dynamics as Typhoon Lekima experiences an eyewall replacement cycle

Abstract

Why does the 1909 typhoon, Lekima, become so destructive after making landfall in China? Using a newly developed mathematical apparatus, the multiscale window transform (MWT), and the MWT-based localized mutliscale energetics analysis and theory of canonical transfer, this study is intended to give a partial answer from a dynamical point of view. The ECMWF reanalysis fields are first reconstructed onto the background window, the TC-scale window, and the convection-scale window. A localized energetics analysis is then performed, which reveals to us distinctly different scenarios before and after August 8–9, 2019, when an eyewall replacement cycle takes place. Before that, the energy supply in the upper layer is mainly via a strong upper layer-limited baroclinic instability; the available potential energy thus-gained is then converted into the TC-scale kinetic energy, with a portion to fuel Lekima’s upper part, another portion carried downward via pressure work flux to maintain the cyclone’s lower part. After the eyewall replacement cycle, a drastic change in dynamics occurs. First, the pressure work is greatly increased in magnitude. A positive baroclinic transfer almost spreads throughout the troposphere, and so does barotropic transfer; in other words, the whole air column is now both barotropically and baroclinically unstable. These newly occurred instabilities help compensate the increasing consumption of the TC-scale kinetic energy, and hence help counteract the dissipation of Lekima after making landfalls.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Typhoon Lekima / multiscale window transform / canonical transfer / multiscale energetics / barotropic/baroclinic instability

References

[1] Bister M, Emanuel K A (1997). The genesis of hurricane Guillermo: texmex analyses and a modeling study. Mon Weather Rev, 125(10): 2662–2682

[2] Charney J G, Eliassen A (1964). On the growth of the hurricane depression. J Atmos Sci, 21(1): 68–75

[3] Cheung K K W (2004). Large-scale environmental parameters associated with tropical cyclone formations in the western north Pacific. J Clim, 17(3): 466–484

[4] Emanuel K A (1986). An air-sea interaction theory for tropical cyclones. Part I: steady-state maintenance. J Atmos Sci, 43(6): 585–605

[5] Emanuel K A (1989). The finite-amplitude nature of tropical cyclonogenensis. J Atmos Sci, 46(22): 3431–3456

[6] Fei J F, Wu R S, Huang X G, Wang Y, Cheng X (2011). Development of an integrated vertical-slantwise convective parameterization scheme and its associated numerical experiments. Acta Meteorol Sin, 25(4): 405–418

[7] Gray W M (1968). Global view of the origins of tropical disturbances and storms. Mon Weather Rev, 96(10): 669–700

[8] Hendricks E A, Montgomery M T, Davis C A (2004). The role of “vortical” hot towers in the formation of Tropical Cyclone Diana (1984). J Atmos Sci, 61(11): 1209–1232

[9] Li G, Ma J, Liang X (2020). A study of the multiscale dynamical processes underlying the blocking high that caused the January 2008 freezing rain and snow storm in southern China. Acta Meteorol Sin, 78(1): 18–32

[10] Liang X S, Anderson D G M (2007). Multiscale window transform. SIAM Journal on Multiscale Modeling and Simulation, 6(2): 437–467

[11] Liang X S, Robinson A (2007). Localized multiscale energy and vorticity analysis: II. finite-amplitude instability theory and validation. Dyn Atmos Oceans, 44: 51–76

[12] Liang X S (2016). Canonical transfer and multiscale energetics for primitive and quasi-geostrophic atmospheres. J Atmos Sci, 73(11): 4439–4468

[13] Liang X S, Robinson A R (2005). Localized multiscale energy and vorticity analysis: I. fundamentals. Dyn Atmos Oceans, 38(3–4): 195–230

[14] Liu L, Fei J F, Lin X P, Song X, Huang X, Cheng X (2011). Study of the air-sea interaction during Typhoon Kaemi (2006). Acta Meteorol Sin, 25(5): 625–638

[15] Luo Z(2005). Typhoon self-organization in a multi-scale coexpisting system. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 2005(5): 672–682 (in Chinese)

[16] Luo Z X, Wang Y, Ma G L, Yu H, Wang X W, Sao L F, Li D H (2014). Possible causes of the variation in fractal dimension of the perimeter during the Tropical Cyclone Dan motion. Sci China Earth Sci, 57(6): 1383–1392

[17] Ma J, Liang X S (2017). Multiscale dynamical processes underlying the wintertime atlantic blockings. J Atmos Sci, 74(11): 3815–3831

[18] Maloney E D, Hartmann D L (2001). The Madden-Julian oscillation, barotropic dynamics, and North Pacific tropical cyclone formation. Part I: observations. J Atmos Sci, 58(17): 2545–2558

[19] Ma L M, Tan Z M (2009). Improving the behavior of the cumulus parameterization for tropical cyclone prediction: convection trigger. Atmos Res, 92(2): 190–211

[20] Ma Z. H, Fei J F, Liu L, Huang X G, Cheng X P (2013). Effects of the cold core eddy on tropical cyclone intensity and structure under idealized air-sea interaction conditions. Monthly Weather Review, 141(4):1285–1303

[21] McBride J L, Keenan T D (1982). Climatology of tropical cyclone genesis in the Australian region. Inter J Clim, 2(1): 13–33

[22] Molinari J, Vollaro D, Skubis S, Dickinson M (2010). Origins and mechanisms of eastern Pacific tropical cyclogenesis: a case study. Mon Weather Rev, 128: 2000

[23] Montgomery M T, Nicholls M E, Cram T A, Saunders A B (2006). A vertical hot tower route to tropical cyclogenesis. J Atmos Sci, 63(1): 355–386

[24] Montgomery M T, Sang N V, Smith R K, Persing J (2009). Do tropical cyclone intensity by WHISH? Q J R Meteorol Soc, 135(644): 1697–1714

[25] Montgomery M T, Farrell B F (1993). Tropical cyclone formation. J Atmos Sci, 50(2): 285–310

[26] Ooyama K V (1982). Conceptual evolution of the theory and modeling of the tropical cyclone. Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan (Ser. II), 60(1): 369–380

[27] Papin P (2011). Using the Rossby radius of deformation as a forecasting tool for tropical cyclogenesis. In: Proceedings of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Ithaca, NY, USA

[28] Riehl H (1954). Tropical Meteorology. New York: McGraw Hill Book

[29] Simpson J, Ritchie E, Holland G J, Halverson J, Stewart S (1997). Mesoscale interactions in tropical cyclone genesis. Mon Weather Rev, 125(10): 2643–2661

[30] Wu L, Duan J (2015). Extended simulation of tropical cyclone formation in the western North Pacific monsoon trough. J Atmos Sci, 72(12): 4469–4485

[31] Xu F, Liang X S (2017). On the generation and maintenance of the 2012/13 sudden stratospheric warming. J Atmos Sci, 74(10): 3209–3228

[32] Yu H (1999). A numerical study on the relationship between the asymmetric structure and moving velocity of typhoon in baroclinic atmosphere. Acta Meteorologica Sinica. 57(6), 694–704

[33] Yang Y, Liang X S (2016). The instabilities and multiscale energetics underlying the Mean–Interannual–Eddy interactions in the Kuroshio extension region. J Phys Oceanogr, 46(5): 1477–1494

[34] Yang Y, Weisberg R H, Liu Y, San Liang X (2020). Instabilities and multiscale interactions underlying the loop current eddy shedding in the Gulf of Mexico. J Phys Oceanogr, 50(5): 1289–1317

[35] Ying M, Zhang W, Yu H, Lu X, Feng J, Fan Y, Zhu Y, Chen D (2014). An overview of the China Meteorological Administration tropical cyclone database. J Atmos Ocean Technol, 31(2): 287–301

[36] Yu H, Wu G (2001). Moist barolinity and abrupt intensity change of tropical cyclone. Acta Meteorol Sin, 59(4): 440–449 (in Chinese)

[37] Zhao Y B, Liang X S (2018). On the inverse relationship between the boreal wintertime Pacific jet strength and storm-track intensity. J Clim, 31(23): 9545–9564

[38] Zhao Y B, Liang XS (2019). Causes and underlying dynamic processes of the mid-winter suppression in the North Pacific storm track. Science China Earth Sciences, 62(5): 872–890

[39] Zhao Y B, Liang X S, Guan Z, Hodges K I (2018). The asymmetric eddy-background flow interaction in the north Pacific storm track. Q J R Meteorol Soc, 145(719): 575– 596

[40] Zhang D L, Bao N (1996). Oceanic cyclogenesis as indued by a mesoscale convective system moving offshore. Part II: genesis and thermodynamic transformation. Mon Weather Rev, 124(10): 2206–2226

[41] Zhang J A, Katsaros K B, Black P G, Lehner S, French J R, Drennan W M (2008). Effects of roll vortices on turbulent fluxes in the hurricane boundary layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol, 128(2): 173–189

[42] Zhang J A, Robert FRogers, Tallapragada V (2017). Impact of parameterized boundary layer structure on tropical cyclone rapid intensification forecasts in HWRF. Mon Weather Rev, 145(4): 1413–1426

[43] Zong H J, Wu L G (2015). Re-examination of tropical cyclone formation in monsoon thoughs over the western North Pacific. Adv Atmos Sci, 32(7): 924–934

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press