| A coupled 3D atmosphere-ocean model is developed to study the effect of the oceanic mixed layer depth (OMLD) on the intensification and the motion of the tropical cyclones. We first study the baroclinic response of the ocean with uniform and nonuniform initial OMLD to the steady forcing of an axisymmetric TC moving at a prescribed translating speed. Emphases are placed on the TC-ocean interactions in the coupled model simulations. Results from 96-hour integrations show TC that move into deeper (shallower) OMLD regions experience rates of increase (decrease) in their intensities once the OMLD is 10 m deeper (2.5 m shallower) than that of the TC's origin. The rightward bias of the sea surface temperature (SST) response appears in every numerical experiment and the maximum SST cooling is about 1-2... |
