Fiscal Year	2018
Division	Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department	Meteorology
Investigator(s)	Montgomery, Michael T.
Sponsor	National Science Foundation (NSF)
Summary	The objective of this proposal is to conduct a basic investigation of the dynamics and thermodynamics of three-dimensional tropical cyclone intensification and in particular the role of non-axisymmetric wave and sub-vortex scale, convective vorticity structures in the intensification process. An integrated, multi-pronged evaluation will be used in this research. We will employ diagnostic analyses of the equations of motion to help understand the effects of the identified eddy structures upon the larger, azimuthally-averaged circulations that traditionally characterize tropical cyclone intensification. This analysis will be done also using Lagrangian coherent structures as a coordinate for diagnosing eddy transport. To address some practical modeling and theoretical questions, we will also evaluate the sensitivity of the identified eddy effects associated with deep convective structures with spatial resolution. Of intellectual merit, this research will identify the manifold roles that various phenomena have on tropical cyclone intensification. Although primarily of a basic research nature, the fruits of this study should stimulate synergistic activities including the improvement of numerical weather forecasts of tropical cyclone intensification in the western Pacific region, a region of particular interest for the DOD and U.S. Navy in particular.
Keywords	Hurricane intensification axisymmetric vs three-dimensions hurricane intensity theory
Publications	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal