Wave Number One Asymmetry

The wave number one asymmetry, characterized by cyclonic and anticyclonic gyres centered on the radius of maximum wind, is comparable in magnitude to the secondary circulation and mean horizontal wind. Observations of this asymmetry indicate that the orientation of the gyres is related to the shear of the mean horizontal wind, suggesting that the gyres are related to changes in the environmental f low.

The asymmetric perturbation wind field, (streamlines and isotachs, m/s) superposed over the reflectivity field (dBZ) at 3-km altitude for Hurricanes (a) Gloria, (b) Emily, (c) Gilbert, and (d) Hugo. The domain of the outer box is 150 X 150 km, with ticks spaced at 15-km intervals.

marks@aoml.noaa.gov

Updated Tue, Nov 14, 1995