The Role of Outflow-Layer Instabilities in Tropical Cyclone Motion

Abstract

The paper examines the role of the development of outflow-layer instabilities on the motion of tropical cyclones. The influence of barotropic instability is examined by comparing the time changes in the storm tracks with the frequencies of free, unstable barotropic modes. For intense vortices barotropic instability is shown to contribute to the slow (periods of a few days) trochoidal motion of a cyclone. The development of instability depends on the horizontal distribution and frequency of environmental forcing. The strongest response occurs when the frequency of the forcing matches the frequency of an unstable mode.