Regional Variability of Moist Thermodynamics and Energy associated with Transient Changes in Easterly Waves.
Saved in:
| Title: | Regional Variability of Moist Thermodynamics and Energy associated with Transient Changes in Easterly Waves. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Lewis-Merritt, Carrie1 (AUTHOR) clewismerritt@ku.edu., Stachnik, Justin P.1,2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. 2026, Vol. 83 Issue 4, p1-21. 21p. |
| Subjects: | Wave amplification, Latent heat, Spatial variation, Convective flow, Energy budget (Geophysics), Atmospheric waves |
| Geographic Terms: | Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean |
| Abstract: | Across the tropics, westward propagating disturbances known as tropical easterly waves (TEWs) make large impacts at regional and global scales. Most TEW studies focus on one domain, limiting the ability to make regional comparisons. In addition, the unique regional background states of TEWs can result in sensitivities for processes related to wave amplification and decay. In this work, we examine convective characteristics and processes related to wave intensity change in four active TEW regions. Specifically, we use a TEW database that tracks low-level curvature vorticity (CV) features in MERRA-2 from 2000–2020. Using regional thresholds for fractional changes in CV, we first identify amplifying and decaying waves. We then compare large-scale processes through moist static energy (MSE) budget analysis and local features including vertical structures of humidity, winds, and latent heating. Horizontal and vertical MSE advection contain key differences between amplifying and decaying waves. Positive horizontal advection is observed west of the kinematic wave center while strong negative advection is located at and to the southeast. Vertical MSE advection is enhanced at the wave center for amplifying waves in most regions and is especially pronounced for northeast Pacific and Indian Ocean amplifying waves. Cross-sections of relative humidity and winds confirm the importance of the local vertical moisture transport for amplifying waves. Finally, structures of latent heating highlight the role of local moist convection associated with wave intensification as all regions contain enhanced positive eddy kinetic energy tendencies at low-levels that were likely generated below latent heating maximums for amplifying waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences is the property of American Meteorological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 193865988 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Regional Variability of Moist Thermodynamics and Energy associated with Transient Changes in Easterly Waves. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lewis-Merritt%2C+Carrie%22">Lewis-Merritt, Carrie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> clewismerritt@ku.edu.</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stachnik%2C+Justin+P%2E%22">Stachnik, Justin P.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+the+Atmospheric+Sciences%22">Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 83 Issue 4, p1-21. 21p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wave+amplification%22">Wave amplification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Latent+heat%22">Latent heat</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatial+variation%22">Spatial variation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Convective+flow%22">Convective flow</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+budget+%28Geophysics%29%22">Energy budget (Geophysics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+waves%22">Atmospheric waves</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indian+Ocean%22">Indian Ocean</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pacific+Ocean%22">Pacific Ocean</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Across the tropics, westward propagating disturbances known as tropical easterly waves (TEWs) make large impacts at regional and global scales. Most TEW studies focus on one domain, limiting the ability to make regional comparisons. In addition, the unique regional background states of TEWs can result in sensitivities for processes related to wave amplification and decay. In this work, we examine convective characteristics and processes related to wave intensity change in four active TEW regions. Specifically, we use a TEW database that tracks low-level curvature vorticity (CV) features in MERRA-2 from 2000–2020. Using regional thresholds for fractional changes in CV, we first identify amplifying and decaying waves. We then compare large-scale processes through moist static energy (MSE) budget analysis and local features including vertical structures of humidity, winds, and latent heating. Horizontal and vertical MSE advection contain key differences between amplifying and decaying waves. Positive horizontal advection is observed west of the kinematic wave center while strong negative advection is located at and to the southeast. Vertical MSE advection is enhanced at the wave center for amplifying waves in most regions and is especially pronounced for northeast Pacific and Indian Ocean amplifying waves. Cross-sections of relative humidity and winds confirm the importance of the local vertical moisture transport for amplifying waves. Finally, structures of latent heating highlight the role of local moist convection associated with wave intensification as all regions contain enhanced positive eddy kinetic energy tendencies at low-levels that were likely generated below latent heating maximums for amplifying waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences is the property of American Meteorological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=193865988 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1175/JAS-D-25-0117.1 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 21 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Wave amplification Type: general – SubjectFull: Latent heat Type: general – SubjectFull: Spatial variation Type: general – SubjectFull: Convective flow Type: general – SubjectFull: Energy budget (Geophysics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Atmospheric waves Type: general – SubjectFull: Indian Ocean Type: general – SubjectFull: Pacific Ocean Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Regional Variability of Moist Thermodynamics and Energy associated with Transient Changes in Easterly Waves. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lewis-Merritt, Carrie – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Stachnik, Justin P. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00224928 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 83 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
