The Dynamics of Tropical Cyclogenesis and Intensification

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Speaker(s): Michael T. Montgomery

To forecast tropical cyclones, or to determine possible changes in their climatology as a result of global warming, we need a conceptual model of how tropical cyclones work.

How do tropical cyclones form, intensity, and decay?
Why do these storms sometimes intensify rapidly, surprising tropical forecasters in charge of protecting life and property for communities affected by these life-threatening storms?
What conceptual models are available to address the questions?

In this talk I will briefly review tropical cyclone structure and present new developments on the fluid dynamics of these storms that help answer these questions.

Colloquium

Junior and senior physics majors attend our biweekly colloquium series, held on Tuesday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. in Shanahan B460. The talks are open to all students and to the public, and are frequently attended by scientists from the other Claremont Colleges, Cal Poly Pomona, and others. The series features speakers from a broad range of institutions and fields of physics.