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ESS124
Prof.
Jin-Yi Yu
Cyclone Intensification
•A cyclone intensifies as its central
pressure lowers and the pressure gradients surrounding the low-pressure center strengthen.
•Intensification of low-level pressure
gradients causes an increase
in wind speed throughout the cyclone, tightening the temperature and moisture gradients in
the vicinity of the fronts,
and creating heavier precipitation and more possibility for sever weather.
•The central low pressure within a cyclone
will intensify if the
divergence aloft (due to jetstreak and curvature) exceeds the convergence into the low in the
boundary layer due to friction.