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Article
Low-Level Westerly Winds, Topography, and Tropical Cyclogenesis of Arlene (2005): Observations and Model Simulations
The Professional Geographer
  • Jingwoong Yoo, Purdue Climate Change Research Center
  • Robert V. Rohli, Louisiana State University
  • Jennifer Collins, University of South Florida
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Keywords
  • Intra-Americas Sea,
  • large-scale circulation,
  • low-level westerlies,
  • orographic effect,
  • tropical cyclogenesis
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2016.1252270
Disciplines
Abstract

The evolution process of the low-level westerly winds over the eastern North Pacific is investigated to understand the tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) of Tropical Storm Arlene (2005) over the Intra-Americas Sea (IAS). Also considered are the influences of the topography of the Central American mountain region interacting with the low-level westerly winds on Arlene's TCG by comparing results from a modified-topography simulation of Arlene's TCG with those from a simulation with the original topography in the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. Interactions among large-scale circulations associated with subtropical highs in both hemispheres and an anticyclone over the warm eastern North Pacific produced low-level westerly winds into the IAS. WRF model experiments with a virtually elevated terrain filling in mountain passes in Central America resulted in the delayed and suppressed development of the incipient storm. The model experiments suggest that the low-level winds and moisture fluxes from the eastern North Pacific passing through the low-level mountain passes in Central America could play a critical role in the TCG process and perhaps also sustenance of storms over the western Caribbean.

Citation / Publisher Attribution

The Professional Geographer, v. 69, issue 3, p. 348-361

Citation Information
Jingwoong Yoo, Robert V. Rohli and Jennifer Collins. "Low-Level Westerly Winds, Topography, and Tropical Cyclogenesis of Arlene (2005): Observations and Model Simulations" The Professional Geographer Vol. 69 Iss. 3 (2017) p. 348 - 361
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jennifercollins/31/