Moisture Evolution in Atlantic Cyclones

A. V. Gavrikov

Moisture evolution in cyclones is studied numerically based on modeling 22 cyclones developed over the Atlantic in 2004–2006. Calculations are carried out with the WRF nonhydrostatic model. Comparison of numerical results and the NCEP/NCAR analyses has shown that the WRF model accurately simulates the cyclone evolution and humidity field and, therefore, can be used to estimate moisture evolution in cyclones. We obtained the data about the changes of the moisture content of the air column and water content of clouds and precipitation in a cyclone from its generation to dissipation. It was found that the moisture content of the air column decreases almost twice at the stage of cyclone deepening due to a negative balance between moisture fluxes from the atmosphere with precipitation and moisture fluxes to the atmosphere due to evaporation from the sea surface.

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