Comments on "An evaluation of hurricane superintensity in axisymmetric numerical models" by Raphaël Rousseau-Rizzi and Kerry Emanuel

In a recent paper Rousseau-Rizzi and Emanuel (2019) presented a derivation of an upper limit on maximum hurricane velocity at the surface. This derivation was based on a consideration of an infinitely narrow (differential) Carnot cycle with the warmer isotherm at the point of the maximum wind veloci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Makarieva, Anastassia M, Nefiodov, Andrei V, Sheil, Douglas, Antonio Donato Nobre, Chikunov, Alexander V, Plunien, Günter, Bai-Lian, Li
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 23.05.2020
Subjects
Carnot cycle
Derivation
Enthalpy
Fluxes
Kinetic energy
Numerical models
Water
Wind speed
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Summary:In a recent paper Rousseau-Rizzi and Emanuel (2019) presented a derivation of an upper limit on maximum hurricane velocity at the surface. This derivation was based on a consideration of an infinitely narrow (differential) Carnot cycle with the warmer isotherm at the point of the maximum wind velocity. Here we show that this derivation neglected a significant term describing the kinetic energy change in the outflow. Additionally, we highlight the importance of a proper accounting for the power needed to lift liquid water. Finally, we provide a revision to the formula for surface fluxes of heat and momentum showing that, if we accept the assumptions adopted by Rousseau-Rizzi and Emanuel (2019), the resulting velocity estimate does not depend on the flux of sensible heat.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.2005.11522