Effect of the Gulf Stream on winter extratropical cyclone outbreaks

A high-resolution, regional coupled air–sea model is used to investigate the effect of the Gulf Stream (GS) on surface wind convergence during winter extratropical cyclone (ETC) outbreaks in January 2005 off the east coast United States. Validations against marine buoy-observed surface wind, sea level pressure (SLP), air temperature and sea surface temperature (SST) show decent model skill. Model analyses indicate that the surface wind convergence and the Laplacian of SLP and SST are proportionate on the synoptic time scale. Strong upward vertical motions and ocean heat loss over the GS support rapid ETC intensification. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society

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