Analysis of the thermodynamic properties of developing and nondeveloping tropical disturbances using a comprehensive dropsonde dataset

AbstractA dropsonde dataset is analyzed to quantify the necessary thermodynamic conditions for tropical cyclogenesis by evaluating the properties that distinguish developing tropical disturbances from nondeveloping disturbances, and by describing the temporal evolution of the developing inner core. The dataset consists of 2204 dropsonde observations from 12 developing disturbances and 245 from four nondeveloping disturbances. These disturbances are the cases with the best pregenesis sampling from field programs between 2005 and 2010, and include those investigated by three coincident field programs during 2010: the NASA Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) and NCAR/NSF Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud Systems in the Tropics (PREDICT) experiments, as well as NOAA’s Intensity Forecast Experiment (IFEX). Composite analyses indicate clear differences between developing and nondeveloping disturbances: developing disturbances exhibit greater moisture and a higher humidity at midlevels (above ...