Observations of a Phenomenal Temperature Perturbation in Tropical Cyclone Kerry (1979)

Abstract

Observations are presented of a phenomenal upper tropospheric mesoscale temperature perturbation arising from the interaction between dissipating Tropical Cyclone Kerry (1979) and a midlatitude trough in the westerlies, which we describe as a black hole from its appearance on satellite imagery. We propose that this perturbation arose from dynamically forced subsidence along a confluence between the environments flow and outflow from a major convective complex. The frequency of occurrence and subsequent adjustment of the atmosphere is described and discussed.