Thesis

This study examined the effect of the Appalachian Mountains on the precipitation distribution of tropical cyclones that impinge upon them.

Methods

With the help of my advisor, Anantha Aiyyer, I began by classifying the 28 storms that passed through our study area between 1979 and 2006 into four general track types.

I analyzed the resulting track composites, examined individual case studies, and ran numerical simulations both with topography (control) and without (experimental) to isolate the effects of the Appalachians.

Results

From these, I was able to identify geographic areas of most frequently occurring heavy rainfall owing to the direct and indirect effects of orography.

Additionally, I was able to document the effects of the Appalachians on tropical cyclones, the effect of the mountains on mid-latitude cyclones simultaneously approaching from the west, and the topographic effects occurring as these differing cyclone types themselves interact.

Harville, S., 2008: Effects of Appalachian Topography on Precipitation from Landfalling Hurricanes. Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, page 13D.2.