Teleconnective Influences on the Strength of Post-tropical Cyclones

<p>Over the 1951-2009 time period, 47% of all tropical systems in the Atlantic Basin transitioned to post-tropical storms. These storms are capable of producing hurricaneforce winds, torrential, flooding rains and storm surge that floods coastal areas. This study adds to previous climatological work by completing a case-study of Hurricane Ike (2008) and examining how teleconnections such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) contribute to the strength of a transitioning post-tropical storm. T-tests performed show strong statistical relationships between an increase (decrease) in post-tropical storm frequency and warm PDO – La Niña (cold PDO – La Niña), cold PDO – ENSO neutral (warm PDO – ENSO neutral), and warm (cold) AMO conditions. Moreover, nearly significant results were found for the same increase (decrease) and La Niña seasons since (pre) 1980 and for cold (warm) PDO conditions. Modeling the MJO suggests that increased (decreased) relative humidity associated with the wet (dry) phase could increase (decrease) precipitation output from the storm and decrease (increase) forward speed of the storm, decreasing (increasing) wind speeds observed at the surface.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Geography and Geology

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Young, Jeremy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Greg Goodrich (Director), Dr. Josh Durkee, Dr. Xingang Fan

• Madden-Julian Oscillation
• WRF Model
• Hurricane Ike
• Hurricane Sandy
• teleconnections
• Pacific Decadal Oscillation
• Physical and Environmental Geography

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1219

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-2222