Simulation of tropical cyclone circulation over the Bay of Bengal using the Arakawa-Schubert cumulus parameterization. Part II: Some sensitivity experiments

The role of sea-surface temperature (SSF) and Coriolis parameter in the evolution and intensification of tropical cyclones has been examined using the ten-level axi-symmetric primitive equation model described in the companion paper (BHASKAR RAO and ASHOK, 1999). Two experiments have been conducted using the ten-level model to assess the role of Coriolis parameter "f" in tropical cyclone intensity and the size of the storm generated. Six experiments have been performed to assess the importance of Sea-Surface Temperature (SST) in tropical cyclogenesis and intensification. The initial thermodynamic field and the initial vortex are the same as that used to simulate the Bay of Bengal tropical cyclone discussed in the companion paper. Further sensitivity experiments indicated a strong dependency of the model on SSTs. The mode] initial vortex could not intensify with an SST of 299 K but could with an SST of 300 K. The increase of SST from 300 K to 300.5 K shows rapid intensification with a minimum central surface pressure of 910 hPa and a maximum tangential wind of 80 m/s. Further increase of SST only shows a marginal increase in intensity and a larger radius of maximum wind. Sensitivity experiments to assess the role of the Coriolis parameter suggest that tropical cyclones develop more intensity and are faster at relatively lower latitudes. © Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 2001.