SINUOSITY OF TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACKS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC BASIN

Abstract

In previous studies, there is an understanding of the various tracks tropical cyclones (TC) can take. Scientists and the general public understand that these tropical cyclones can vary in size, speed, and intensity. In this study three tropical cyclone track types (Sinuous, Quasi-Straight, and Straight Moving) were defined by applying a subjective approach using the Sinuosity equation to calculate the sinuosity or the curvature of each landfalling tropical cyclone track that occurred between 1979 and 2020 in the North Atlantic Basin. The calculations of each track were then compared to the average position of the North Atlantic Subtropical High during each track’s lifespan using the 850-gpm contour maps. Four specific examples (1 straight moving, 2 quasi-straight, and 1 sinuous) displayed the positional behavior of the NASH affecting the outcome of each track type. This study focuses further on how several landfalling tropical cyclones are affected by the NASH, and how the identifiable patterns could be applied in a prognostic or nowcasting environment in weather forecasting.