Consistent impacts of surface enthalpy and drag coefficient uncertainty between an analytical model and simulated tropical cyclone maximum intensity and storm structure

In this study we investigate the consistency of the estimated peak intensity, intensification rate, and steady-state structure between an analytical model and idealized axisymmetric numerical simulations for both constant C-k and C-d values and various wind speeddependent representations of C-k and C-d.

The present analysis with constant C-k and C-d values demonstrates that the maximum wind speed is similar for identical C-k/C-d values less than 1, regardless of whether changes were made to C-k or C-d. However, for a given C-k/C-d greater than 1, the simulated and theoretical maximum wind speed are both greater if C-d is decreased compared to C-k increased. This behavior results because of a smaller enthalpy disequilibrium at the radius of maximum winds for larger C-k.