Multiscale interaction analysis of Landfall Typhoon Lekima (2019) based on vorticity equation diagnosis

Abstract

To investigate the multiscale interaction characteristics of Landfall Typhoon Lekima (2019), this study analyzed the characteristics of the different scale vortex structure and interactions among different scales based on vorticity equation diagnosis. The analysis is based on the simulation results of the WRF model which has been thoroughly verified. The main results are as follows: the original vorticity dominated by the meso-α scale vorticity increases with height and then decreases, with maximum vorticity distributed at 900 hPa. The meso-β scale vorticity varies significantly with altitude, while the meso-γ scale vorticity field exhibits obvious positive vorticity below 850 hPa. The meso-α scale vorticity tendency primarily maintains negative, contributing significantly to the overall reduction in the original vorticity field over time. The increase in mid-to-upper-level (above 550 hPa) original vorticity is mainly related to the variations in the meso-β and meso-γ scale vorticity fields. The original vorticity dominated by the meso-α scale vorticity increases with height and then decreases, and the whole layer vorticity decreases over time. The meso-β scale vorticity varies significantly with altitude and time, while the meso-γ scale vorticity field consistently exhibits significant positive vorticity below 850 hPa. The vorticity equation diagnosis revealed that the primary source terms of the vorticity tendencies are the twisting and stretching terms, and the main sink terms being horizontal and vertical vorticity transport terms below 900 hPa. The source terms and sink terms exchange above 850 hPa. Scale separation results show that the primary contributions of all impact factors originate from the meso-α and meso-γ scale fields (accounting for over 80% of the total), with the contribution of the meso-α scale being less than that of the meso-γ scale and a notable contribution over 35.5% of the interactions between different scales.

Keywords

• Tropical cyclone
• Multiscale interaction
• Vorticity equation diagnosis