The modulation of vortex growth by periodic convective activity

TL;DR

This paper investigates how periodic convective activity, modulated by diurnal cycles, influences vortex growth in tropical cyclone formation through numerical simulations, revealing a potential acceleration mechanism.

Contribution

It demonstrates that periodic convective activity can accelerate vortex development by inducing residual vorticity, a novel insight into cyclone genesis.

Findings

Periodic convective activity produces residual barotropic vorticity.

The vortex develops a core-shell structure with cyclonic and anticyclonic regions.

Simulation results suggest a potential acceleration effect on cyclone formation.

Abstract

An important process in tropical cyclone formation is the development of a deep, warm core, which corresponds to the growth of a barotropic cyclone. Persistent convective activity is known to be crucial for the growth of barotropic vorticity. However, it remains unclear whether the fluctuating component of convective activity, such as that caused by the diurnal cycle and inertial-gravity waves, also accelerates the vortex development. To investigate this problem, numerical simulations are performed in an axisymmetric model with the Boussinesq approximation on the f-plane. Convection is parameterized with a bulk-plume mass-flux scheme. To represent a mesoscale convective system modulated by the diurnal cycle, periodic convective mass flux is imposed in a local region. The convection induces periodic diabatic heating and convective momentum transfer in the vertical direction (CMT). The CMT is an irreversible effect that breaks the quadrature phase relation between vertical velocity and vertical vorticity, producing a residual barotropic vorticity in each cycle. The barotropic vorticity consists of a barotropic cyclonic core and an anticyclonic shell. The cyclonic core is produced by the vertical advection and stretching of vertical vorticity. The anticyclonic shell is produced by the radial advection and tilting of radial vorticity. The analytical solution reproduces the formation and growth of the core-shell vorticity structure. This research reveals a potential acceleration effect of periodic convective activity on tropical cyclone genesis.