Size and Structure of Dry and Moist Reversible Tropical Cyclones

Abstract

The size and structure of tropical cyclones (TCs) are investigated using idealized numerical simulations. Three simulations are conducted: a pure dry TC (DRY), a moist reversible TC (REV) with fallout of hydrometeors in the atmosphere disallowed, and a typical TC (CTL). It was found that the width of the eyewall ascent region and the radius of maximum wind rm are much larger in DRY and REV than those in CTL. This is closely related to the deep inflow layer (~4 km) in DRY and REV associated with a different entropy restoration mechanism under the subsidence region. With the wide ascents, the close link between rm and the outer radius in DRY and REV can be well predicted by the Emanuel and Rotunno (ER11) model. The magnitude of subsidence, mainly controlled by the vertical gradient of entropy in the mid- and upper troposphere, is nearly one order greater in DRY and REV than that in CTL. This study demonstrates that the falling nature of hydrometeors poses a strong constraint on the size and structure of real world TCs via the entropy distribution in the subsidence region. The wide ascent, self-stratification in the outflow, and decently reproduced wind profile in DRY and REV suggest that DRY and REV behave like a prototype of the ER11 model with CTL being an extreme type.