Project: An investigation of tropical cyclone interaction with high orography using the MM5
Project Description:
Using the MM5, we hope to improve QPF (quantitative precipitation forecasts) forecasts for Taiwan,
as well as QPF for tropical systems in general. Additionally, we will use high resolution model
output to help improve our understanding of the dynamical process occurring when a typhoon crosses
over the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan.
Research Highlights
- Performed sensitivity tests on various cumulus and microphysical parameterization schemes
on typhoon track and rainfall. The Betts-Miller cumulus scheme best simulates the track
of the observed typhoons.
- It is necessary to use fine resolution (5 km or less) to fully capture the distribution of rainfall.
- Fast moving and strong typhoons, such as Bilis 2000, have upper and lower level centers that stay
roughly coupled when crossing Taiwan. Slower and weaker Typhoons, such as Toraji 2001,
have a much more complicated interaction with Taiwan. Lee side lows from down-sloping,
and the formation and wrapping of vorticity banners around the island, play an important
role in the reformation of the low-level center after the typhoon crosses over the
Central Mountain Range.
Principal Investigators:
- Dr. Yuh-Lang Lin
- Dr. Bill Kuo
International Collaborator
Graduate Students
- Nicholas Witcraft
- C-Y Huang
International Experience
Nicholas Witcraft and fellow graduate student Christopher Hill had the opportunity
to present their findings abroad in June of 2002. For the first part of the trip,
they went to Taiwan, where they gave seminars at Chinese Cultural University, National Taiwan University,
National Central University, and the central university of Taiwan. On their way back, Nick and
Chris stopped in Korea, where they gave a talk at Yonsei University. They have learned a lot about research
on Typhoons and heavy rainfall in East Asia. The scientific interactions with scientists and students
in both countries have benefited their thesis research. In their free time they got to experience and
enjoy the Asian culture.
Publications
- Lin, Y.L., N. C. Witcraft, and S.-Y. Chen, 2002. Modeling track deflection for tropical cyclones
passing over a mesoscale mountain and its potential application to track prediction.
Proceedings from the 25th Conf. on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, Amer. Meteor. Soc., San Diego, CA, April 29-May 3 2002, pp. 23-24.
- Witcraft, N.C., Y.L. Lin, and Y.-H. Kuo, 2003. Sensitivity of tropical cyclone track, intensity, and
orographic precipitation to cumulus and microphysical parameterization.
10th Conf. on Mesoscale Processes, 23-27 June. Amer. Meteor. Soc., Portland, OR
Powerpoint Presentations
- NWPpresentation.ppt: Testing of a larger one-way 5 km nested domain using Goddard and Reisner2 microphysics
- Convection2.ppt: Testing of 5 different microphysics schemes using the 3-nest configuration under 'Domains'
- Seminarfinal.ppt: Seminar from the fall 2002 laying out my research thus far and what I planned to do in the future for my thesis
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