Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand


Structure and evolution of subtropical cyclone Anita as evaluated by heat and vorticity budgets

Full text
Author(s):
Mosso Dutra, Livia Marcia ; da Rocha, Rosmeri Porfirio ; Lee, Robert William ; Romao Peres, Jean Rafael ; de Camargo, Ricardo
Total Authors: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY; v. 143, n. 704, p. 15-pg., 2017-04-01.
Abstract

This article explores the evolution of subtropical cyclone Anita, which occurred near the east coast of Brazil (similar to 19 degrees S-37 degrees W) in March 2010. Thermodynamic and dynamic processes during Anita's life cycle are investigated using the heat and vorticity budget equations. The cyclone developed with hybrid characteristics and moved anomalously to the southwest, where it coupled with an upper-level cut-off low during the mature phase. This coupling was the main dynamical mechanism for further cyclone deepening. Anita then remained quasi-stationary at about 30 degrees S-47 degrees W for 2 days, due to an upper-level dipole pattern, which prevented earlier displacement of the upper-level low counterpart. When the dipole pattern dissipated, the cyclone moved southeast and underwent extratropical transition whilst merging with a midlatitude frontal cyclone. Diabatic heating and horizontal temperature advection are found to be essential for subtropical development. During extratropical transition, instead it is diabatic cooling together with adiabatic cooling and warm-air advection that act as the main mechanisms to influence the local temperature tendencies at low levels. Low-level cyclonic tendencies were mostly due to convergent flow and the residual vorticity partially destroyed the vorticity tendencies produced by the divergence term. Moreover, in regions and levels where convection could explain some of the vorticity tendencies, it is found that apparent sinks of cyclonic vorticity were related to negative vorticity due to divergence (i.e. convergent flow), whilst apparent sources were related to positive vorticity due to divergence (i.e. divergent flow). (AU)

FAPESP's process: 08/58101-9 - Impact of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean on South American climate for the 20th and 21st centuries
Grantee:Tercio Ambrizzi
Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 10/03340-9 - Subropical cyclones over South Atlantic Ocean: analysis of dynamic structure of one event
Grantee:Lívia Márcia Mosso Dutra
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master