Numerical experiments on radiation and tropical cyclones

Numerical simulations of tropical cyclones were carried out using an axisymmetric model with explicit convection and detailed microphysical and radiative parametrizations. The simulated systems showed a modest increase in intensity when radiative heating and cooling were included. This could be attributed to differential cooling of the environment of the system relative to its warm core, where cloud cover prevented radiative cooling. However the results were strongly influenced by the initial conditions and by the evolution of the water vapour field in the environment of the cyclone. This indicates that conclusive results concerning the effects of radiation on tropical cyclones are unlikely to be obtained from such idealized simulations, but will require studies that adequately represent the initiation and environmental interactions.