Extratropical Transition of Tropical Cyclones in the Southeast Indian Ocean: A Climatology

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Kevin Goebbert

College

Arts and Sciences

Discipline(s)

Geography and Meteorology

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 4-29-2021

Abstract

This research investigates the extratropical transition (ET) of tropical cyclones in the Western Australian (WAUS) region between 1979 and 2015. The study examined 212 tropical cyclones to see if they completed the ET by examining the thickness values at the center of the cyclone and the thermal wind vectors through reanalysis data from the ERA5 (0.25 degree). The original track of each cyclone was provided by the International Best Track Archive For Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). By using the ERA5, reanalysis tracks were determined in two different ways. The first way that was used was finding the grid point on the reanalysis that was closest to the known center point that was provided through IBTrACS. The second method that was used to find the reanalysis track was to find the grid point that had the lowest mean sea level pressure within 300 kilometers from the known center point of the cyclone. Cyclone phase space parameters determining symmetry and the direction of the thermal wind will be used to determine which tropical cyclones started and/or completed the ET. Based on previous studies, it is expected that approximately 10% of the cyclones will complete the ET for the Southeast Indian Ocean Basin. In addition to determining the frequency of ET in the WAUS region, other characteristics about the ET in this ocean basin will be examined.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Samantha Schletz is a senior meteorology major from New Lenox, Illinois. She has had an interest in weather, especially tropical meteorology, since she was a young child when a family member was affected by a hurricane. Along with her meteorology major, she is pursuing a mathematics minor at Valparaiso University. In Fall of 2021, she will be continuing her education and pursuing her Masters Degree in Atmospheric Sciences

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