Tropical Vortices in Northwest Pacific Monsoon

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA

Investigators

Abstract

The project will improve our understanding of the genesis and evolution of tropical synoptic disturbances in the northwest sector of the Pacific. The structure of the background monsoonal flow in this region during northern summer (with westerlies in the western and easterlies in the eastern part of domain) allows for interesting dynamical interactions involving tropical waves and cyclones. Dr. Chang will investigate the dynamical processes, particularly, nonlinear interactions in the vicinity of confluent mean flow, to advance the understanding of tropical cyclogenesis. Tropical cyclones in this region are often disastrous, taking tremendous toll on human lives and the economies of Southeast Asia. Investigation of the conditions under which tropical synoptic disturbances evolve into cyclones can lead to improvement in cyclone forecasting. Together with co-PI, Dr. Roger Williams, Dr. Chang will dynamically model the interactions between the background monsoonal flow and tropical disturbances using barotropic, baroclinic, and primitive equation models, to better understand their evolution.