Synoptic-Scale Precursors to Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification in the Atlantic Basin

Figure 5

Pressure vertical velocity (Pa s⁻¹) cluster 3 500 hPa RI (panel (a)), non-RI (panel (b)), 200 hPa RI (panel (c)), non-RI (panel (d)), and the resulting differences in the permutation test of the fields for 500 hPa (panel (e): shaded areas are significant at or less) and 200 hPa (panel (f)). Composites reveal there is UVV in storm center for RI tropical cyclones, whereas the non-RI cases are showing shifting towards the right of storm center. The value fields reveal areas of statistical significance are shifted left of the storm center, matching up closely with the area of statically significant divergence.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)