| Description |
Global analysis fields, infrared and passive microwave satellite observations, lightning data, and airborne radar reflectivity and dual-Doppler wind analyses show the evolution of environmental conditions, precipitation characteristics, and kinematic structure before, during, and after the rapid intensification (RI) of Hurricane Earl (2010). The relationship between the RI and environmental conditions, intense inner-core convection, inner-core precipitation coverage, core cold-cloud precipitation symmetry, and the radial distribution of convection is examined. The onset of RI occurs despite moderate vertical wind shear. An episode of intense convection occurs before the RI onset, but an examination of the mesoscale and convective-scale kinematic processes during this convective ‘burst' suggests that the strength of convection alone did not cause the onset of RI. Instead, the dual-Doppler, lightning, and microwave data suggest that the precipitation characteristic that ultimately led to the onset of RI was an increasing trend in cold-cloud precipitation symmetry following the migration of inner-core convection into the northeastern and northern quadrants of the storm within a few hours before RI onset. The evolution of precipitation during the RI suggests that the most important inner-core precipitation characteristics supporting RI are the cold-cloud precipitation symmetry and the predominance of strong convective updrafts within (instead of outside of) the radius of maximum wind (RMW). The wind and precipitation data from Earl indicate that the RMW at multiple levels must be examined. When the RMW is substantially slanted, only considering the low-level RMW can lead to the false conclusion that the strongest convection is located outside of the RMW. |
