Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar Observations
Abstract The distribution of tropical cyclone (TC) eye cloud heights is documented for the first time using compact Raman lidar (CRL) measurements with high spatial resolution. These cloud heights act as tracers for low‐level vertical mixing in the eye region. Cloud height distributions using all av...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108515 |
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| author | Ethan J. Murray Jason Dunion Kristopher B. Karnauskas Zhien Wang Jun A. Zhang |
| author_facet | Ethan J. Murray Jason Dunion Kristopher B. Karnauskas Zhien Wang Jun A. Zhang |
| author_sort | Ethan J. Murray |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The distribution of tropical cyclone (TC) eye cloud heights is documented for the first time using compact Raman lidar (CRL) measurements with high spatial resolution. These cloud heights act as tracers for low‐level vertical mixing in the eye region. Cloud height distributions using all available data from nine Atlantic TCs in 2021 and 2022 show significant vertical variance, dispelling the notion of a flat stratiform eye cloud deck. Eye cloud widths are multiscale, with shallow convective clouds dominating CRL returns. Data from Hurricane Sam (2021) highlight the evolution of shallow convective clouds in the TC eye and their associated temperature inversions. The frequent appearance of convective eye clouds, along with observed vertical wind fluctuations, suggests that vertical mixing from the boundary layer frequently occurs in the TC eye, even beneath strong inversions. This strong vertical mixing should be accurately portrayed by TC simulations and forecasts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7d4bc0ced2fa4b6cbe922cf961855f4e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-7d4bc0ced2fa4b6cbe922cf961855f4e2025-08-20T02:31:42ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-07-015114n/an/a10.1029/2024GL108515Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar ObservationsEthan J. Murray0Jason Dunion1Kristopher B. Karnauskas2Zhien Wang3Jun A. Zhang4Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of Colorado Boulder CO USANOAA/AOML Hurricane Research Division Miami FL USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of Colorado Boulder CO USASchool of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University Stony Brook NY USANOAA/AOML Hurricane Research Division Miami FL USAAbstract The distribution of tropical cyclone (TC) eye cloud heights is documented for the first time using compact Raman lidar (CRL) measurements with high spatial resolution. These cloud heights act as tracers for low‐level vertical mixing in the eye region. Cloud height distributions using all available data from nine Atlantic TCs in 2021 and 2022 show significant vertical variance, dispelling the notion of a flat stratiform eye cloud deck. Eye cloud widths are multiscale, with shallow convective clouds dominating CRL returns. Data from Hurricane Sam (2021) highlight the evolution of shallow convective clouds in the TC eye and their associated temperature inversions. The frequent appearance of convective eye clouds, along with observed vertical wind fluctuations, suggests that vertical mixing from the boundary layer frequently occurs in the TC eye, even beneath strong inversions. This strong vertical mixing should be accurately portrayed by TC simulations and forecasts.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108515tropical cyclonesatmospheric lidarremote sensingintensity changeconvection |
| spellingShingle | Ethan J. Murray Jason Dunion Kristopher B. Karnauskas Zhien Wang Jun A. Zhang Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar Observations Geophysical Research Letters tropical cyclones atmospheric lidar remote sensing intensity change convection |
| title | Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar Observations |
| title_full | Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar Observations |
| title_fullStr | Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar Observations |
| title_short | Cloud Height Distributions and the Role of Vertical Mixing in the Tropical Cyclone Eye Derived From Compact Raman Lidar Observations |
| title_sort | cloud height distributions and the role of vertical mixing in the tropical cyclone eye derived from compact raman lidar observations |
| topic | tropical cyclones atmospheric lidar remote sensing intensity change convection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108515 |
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