The goal of this study is to further investigate the relationship between the microphysical processes of a tropical cyclone and its intensification. Hydrometeors such as rainwater, cloud ice, cloud water, snow, and graupel play a significant role updraft and downdraft characteristics, precipitation, evaporation, ice concentration, and the distribution of latent heat. These processes are the primary heat sources for tropical cyclones. Therefore, it is expected that cloud microphysics may directly or indirectly influence the intensity of the hurricane. The first objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of different sophisticated explicit cloud microphysics parameterization schemes available in the PSU/NCAR MM5 model, on the hurricane forecast. Of the four microphysical parameterization schemes, the one that exhibited an intensity pattern closely resembling that of the observed values for the hurricane was selected in order to continue onto the next phase of the project. The second objective is to assess the impact of ice hydrometeors (cloud ice), in the overall performance of the hurricane forecast. This phase further investigates the impact of the selected microphysical processes on the overall forecast of the hurricane, with an emphasis on intensity. This is achieved by suppressing some of the microphysical processes that would allow for ice depletion. By doing so, we indirectly increase the amount of ice in the hurricane. This numerical comparison is done in the selected scheme both before and after ice production terms are modified, in order to substantiate the hypothesis whether or not an increased amount of ice in a tropical cyclone would lead to a more intense storm. / A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Meteorology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2005. / December 3, 2004. / hurricane intensity, MM5, ice microphysics / Includes bibliographical references. / T. N. Krishnamurti, Professor Directing Thesis; Robert Hart, Committee Member; Carol Anne Clayson, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_176264 |
| Contributors | Sheermohamed, Jordanna (authoraut), Krishnamurti, T. N. (professor directing thesis), Hart, Robert (committee member), Clayson, Carol Anne (committee member), Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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