The effects of terrain on landfalling tropical cyclones: An MM5 simulation of typhoon Herb (1996)

A series of numerical simulations using the Penn State University/National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) Version 2 were conducted to simulate Supertyphoon Herb, a devastating tropical cyclone that made landfall on Taiwan in July of 1996. The interaction of the tropical cyclone (TC) and Taiwan's Central Mountain Range (CMR) is examined through analysis of the vertical motion and potential vorticity (PV) fields as the typhoon approaches the terrain feature. The generation of PV on the lee-side of the CMR is also observed. Comparisons are presented between model output of the TC as it nears Taiwan to a conceptual model; previous research for each of these features is also summarized.