Climatology of Heavy Rainfall Associated with Tropical Cyclones Affecting the Central Appalachians
Climatology of Heavy Rainfall Associated with Tropical Cyclones Affecting the Central Appalachians

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Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 86

ISBN-13:

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Over 50 years (1950-2004) of rainfall events associated with tropical cyclones that affected the central Appalachians were examined. Tracks of tropical cyclones (or tropical depression remnants) that passed within 500 km of the National Weather Service Office in Blacksburg, VA were compared with associated rainfall analyses of the Appalachian region in Virginia, West Virginia, and northwest North Carolina. In addition, surface and upper air analyses were examined for each event to help determine the relative influence of factors such as upslope flow, overrunning, and boundary interaction in relation to the cyclone track on the specific location and amounts of precipitation. The speed of movement across or along the Appalachians, as well as intensity of the cyclone (maximum wind speeds) as it passed through the analysis area, was also considered. The events were divided into categories based on the location the tropical cyclone made landfall. The seasonal distribution, e.g., which specific months are favored for tropical cyclone activity in the region, is also shown. These data were compiled in order to provide forecasters with a climatological database of tropical cyclones affecting the area, as well as the rainfall from these events. Results of the study will aid forecasters when assessing the potential effects of future tropical cyclone tracks and their rainfall impact on the Central Appalachians.

Effects of Appalachian Topography on Precipitation from Landfalling Hurricanes
Effects of Appalachian Topography on Precipitation from Landfalling Hurricanes

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Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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A thorough analysis of rainfall distributions associated with tropical cyclones that have impinged upon or impacted the southern and central Appalachian mountain range is conducted using the North America Regional Reanalysis (NARR) and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The primary objective of this study is to improve the skill and precision of future forecasts by identifying specific areas where enhancement of the precipitation associated with landfalling tropical cyclones due to the direct and indirect effects of orography most frequently occurs. Based on the relative positions between the tropical cyclone tracks and the orientation of the Appalachian Mountains, four storm tracks are classified. We identify locations with the highest potential for flooding using local maximum analysis for each representative track. For storms that run parallel along the eastern side of the Appalachians (Track-B), heavy rainfall is located along eastern slopes with the heaviest precipitation falling across western North Carolina and central Virginia. Storm tracks that run parallel on the western side of the Appalachians (Track-C) show heaviest precipitation falling on the eastern slopes of western North Carolina. For storms that track more perpendicular to the mountain range, maximum rainfall is located over the mountains of central Virginia (Track-A) and across the southern Appalachians (Track-D). A second goal of this work is to document some of the effects of these mountains on landfalling tropical cyclones, on the synoptic environment as a whole, and on the interactions of these tropical and mid-latitude cyclones. Work here is focused on expanding upon the synoptic approach of Atallah et al. (2007). This is accomplished through examination of the precipitation climatology, analysis of composites and case studies, and by numerical simulation. Hart and Evans (2006) find that the orientation of the approaching upper-level mid-latitude trough is one of the most sign.

Atmospheric Rivers
Atmospheric Rivers

Author: F. Martin Ralph

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-07-10

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13: 3030289060

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This book is the standard reference based on roughly 20 years of research on atmospheric rivers, emphasizing progress made on key research and applications questions and remaining knowledge gaps. The book presents the history of atmospheric-rivers research, the current state of scientific knowledge, tools, and policy-relevant (science-informed) problems that lend themselves to real-world application of the research—and how the topic fits into larger national and global contexts. This book is written by a global team of authors who have conducted and published the majority of critical research on atmospheric rivers over the past years. The book is intended to benefit practitioners in the fields of meteorology, hydrology and related disciplines, including students as well as senior researchers.

A Literature Review: Effect of Climate Change on Tropical Cyclones
A Literature Review: Effect of Climate Change on Tropical Cyclones

Author: Kopal Arora

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2014-06-11

Total Pages: 15

ISBN-13: 3656670609

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Essay from the year 2011 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Meteorology, Aeronomy, Climatology, grade: 11.0, University of Exeter, language: English, abstract: Since tropical cyclones(TCs) are one of the major geophysical cause of loss of life and property, it is important to understand if there is any change in the frequency and intensity of TCs due to anthropogenic climate change. IPCC considers 0.25-0.5 C increase in warming over tropical oceans over the past few decades due to increase in greenhouse gas concentration over past 50years. During 6th International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones, a statement was released on the connection between the TCs and anthropogenic climate change. The statement was in response to the increase in number of recent high-impact TC events which includes, 10 land falling Tcs in Japan in 2004, 5 TCs affecting the Cook island in a five week period during 2005, cyclone Gafilo in Madagascar in 2004, cyclone Larry in Australia in 2006, typhoon Saomai in China in 2006, and violently active Atlantic TC season during the period of 2004 to 2005, including the catastrophic socioeconomic impact of Hurricane Katrina. A few recent articles [1] have noted a large increase in TC’s intensity, frequency and wind-speeds in some regions during past 5 decades, which could be attributed to the increase in the concentration of green house gases in past 50years. However, other studies explain this noticed increase as a result of better observations made and instruments used, making it easier to detect TCs. Consensus statement by the International workshop on TC-6 reported uncertain conclusions about the influence of climate change on TC after taking into account evidence both for and against. It was concluded that no TC could be solely attributed to the anthropogenic climate change. Model and theory predicts 3-5% increase in wind speed per degree C increase in SST. But, there is inconsistency between the small change in wind speed projected by theory and modelling versus large variations reported by some observational studies. Significant limitation of measurements over some regions make detection of trends difficult. It was suggested that if increase in SST continues, susceptibility to TC storm surge flooding would strengthen.

Southeastern Geographer
Southeastern Geographer

Author: David M. Cochran Jr.

Publisher: UNC Press Books

Published: 2012-04-01

Total Pages: 114

ISBN-13: 080787258X

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Table of Contents for Volume 52, Number 1 (Spring 2012) Cover Art A Section of the Kansas City Southern in Hattiesburg, Mississippi David M. Cochran, Jr. Introduction David M. Cochran, Jr. and Carl A. Reese Part I: Papers Spatial and Temporal Variations in West Virginia's Precipitation, 1931–2000 James Leonard and Kevin Law The Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota Program in Florida: Perceptions and Implications Kamal Alsharif and Nathan Miller Reflections in the Water: Society and Recreational Facilities, a Case Study of Public Swimming Pools in Mississippi P. Caleb Smith Local Food Initiatives in Tobacco Transitions of the Southeastern United States Richard A. Russo A GIS-Based Football Stadium Evacuation Model Joslyn J. Zale and Bandana Kar Part II: Geographical Notes The Origin and Appreciation of Savannah, Georgia's Historic City Squares Louis De Vorsey Part III: Reviews Louisiana Place Names of Indian Origin, A Collection of Words William A. Read, edited by George M. Riser Reviewed by Andy Hilburn The SAGE Handbook of Geographical Knowledge Edited by John Agnew and David N. Livingstone Reviewed by J. O. Joby Bass

Examining Planetary, Synoptic and Mesoscale Features that Enhance Precipitation Associated with Landfalling Tropical Cyclones in North Carolina
Examining Planetary, Synoptic and Mesoscale Features that Enhance Precipitation Associated with Landfalling Tropical Cyclones in North Carolina

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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Landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) over North Carolina often produce excessive rain well inland from the location of landfall. A three-part study consisting of a precipitation analysis, climatological analysis and numerical model simulations was performed to determine the dominant mechanisms that influence precipitation associated with TCs that move over North Carolina. The goal was to determine the intrinsic or environmental features that enhance precipitation associated with the TCs influencing North Carolina and create a conceptual model to enable forecasters to better assess the likelihood of enhanced precipitation during TCs. In the precipitation analysis of 28 TCs that made landfall or tracked along North Carolina's immediate coastline from 1953-2003, the spread of precipitation and track of each storm across North Carolina was considered. The potential correlation between several intrinsic features (i.e. maximum storm intensity, landfall intensity and translation speed) and the 3-day storm average precipitation from 52 rain gauge stations across North Carolina were examined. The results indicated no statistically significant correlation between precipitation and any of the above features. Due to this lack of correlation, the preexisting synoptic/dynamic environment the TC was entering at landfall was examined to determine if the environmental features could be the dominant precipitation enhancing mechanism. In the climatological analysis the 28 TCs were divided into relatively heavy and relatively light rainfall groups so that composite analyses of several environmental features from 72 hours prior to landfall could be examined. The features included 250 hPa geopotential heights, 850-700 hPa and 500-250 hPa potential vorticity, 925-850 hPa moisture flux, 1000 hPa frontogenesis, temperatures, winds and mean sea level pressure. The results indicated that there are several significant planetary, synoptic and mesoscale climatological differences from 72 to 6 hou.