Mechanisms Linking Stratospheric Gravity Wave Activity to Hurricane Intensification: Insights From Model Simulation of Hurricane Joaquin

X. Wu; L. Hoffmann; C. J. Wright; N. P. Hindley; M. J. Alexander; X. Wang; B. Chen; Y. Wang; M. Li

doi:10.1029/2024GL113531

Mechanisms Linking Stratospheric Gravity Wave Activity to Hurricane Intensification: Insights From Model Simulation of Hurricane Joaquin

X. Wu, L. Hoffmann, C. J. Wright, N. P. Hindley, M. J. Alexander, X. Wang, B. Chen, Y. Wang, M. Li

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Previous studies based on satellite observations and model simulations have revealed a significant correlation between intense stratospheric gravity wave (GW) activity and hurricane intensification. This research further investigated the underlying mechanism of this correlation by analyzing the properties and propagation characteristics of stratospheric GWs excited by Hurricane Joaquin based on a Weather Research and Forecasting model simulation. By employing the 3-D Stockwell wave analysis method, we found that GWs excited during hurricane intensification display relatively higher intrinsic frequencies, shorter horizontal wavelengths, and longer vertical wavelengths than during weakening. Analysis of these GWs' propagation using the GROGRAT ray-tracing model revealed that they can reach the middle stratosphere rapidly within 20 min. This quick propagation enabled the observation of intense stratospheric GWs before the hurricane reached its peak intensity, offering a potential indicator for hurricane intensification. These findings strengthened the basis for considering stratospheric GW activity as a proxy for hurricane intensification under specific conditions.

Original language	English
Article number	e2024GL113531
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	52
Issue number	10
Early online date	24 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113531
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2025

Data Availability Statement

The ERA5 reanalysis data (Hersbach et al., 2023) were retrieved from the ECMWF Meteorological Archival and Retrieval System (10.24381/cds.bd0915c6; last accessed: 27 October 2024). The 3-D Stockwell wave analysis method codes (Hindley, 2021) are archived and freely available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4721882.

Acknowledgements

The computing time and storage were provided by the Juelich Supercomputing Centre. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Shuguang Wang from Nanjing University and Dr. Junhong Wei from Sun Yat-sen University for their technical support in the ray tracing model.

Funding

X. Wu is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Grant 42475068 and the Strategy Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Grant XDB0760101. CJW is supported by the Royal Society University Research Fellowship URF\R\221023, and NERC Grants NE/S00985X/1 and NE/V01837X/1. NPH is supported by the NERC Independent Research Fellowship NE/X017842/1. MJA was supported by NASA Weather and Atmospheric Dynamics Program Grant 80NSSC23K1311. BC is supported by the NSFC Grants 42175046 and 42065009, and the Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province Grant 201901BB050045. X. Wang is supported by the Strategy Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Grant XDB0760101. YNW is supported by the second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program Grant 2019QZKK0604.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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abstract = "Previous studies based on satellite observations and model simulations have revealed a significant correlation between intense stratospheric gravity wave (GW) activity and hurricane intensification. This research further investigated the underlying mechanism of this correlation by analyzing the properties and propagation characteristics of stratospheric GWs excited by Hurricane Joaquin based on a Weather Research and Forecasting model simulation. By employing the 3-D Stockwell wave analysis method, we found that GWs excited during hurricane intensification display relatively higher intrinsic frequencies, shorter horizontal wavelengths, and longer vertical wavelengths than during weakening. Analysis of these GWs' propagation using the GROGRAT ray-tracing model revealed that they can reach the middle stratosphere rapidly within 20 min. This quick propagation enabled the observation of intense stratospheric GWs before the hurricane reached its peak intensity, offering a potential indicator for hurricane intensification. These findings strengthened the basis for considering stratospheric GW activity as a proxy for hurricane intensification under specific conditions.",

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AU - Hindley, N. P.

AU - Alexander, M. J.

AU - Wang, X.

AU - Chen, B.

AU - Wang, Y.

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Mechanisms Linking Stratospheric Gravity Wave Activity to Hurricane Intensification: Insights From Model Simulation of Hurricane Joaquin

Abstract

Data Availability Statement

Acknowledgements

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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