Hurricanes are massive, complex systems that can be difficult to predict in terms of intensity. A collaboration between researchers in South Korea and Florida State University has focused on improving hurricane forecasting by considering the effects of sea spray on storm behavior. Sea spray consists of droplets of warm water dispersed into the air by wind and waves, which then cool and release heat and moisture near the ocean surface, playing a crucial role in powering hurricanes. The study found that there was a significant amount of thermal energy being transferred from the ocean into the air, indicating that the influence of sea spray on storm intensity may have been previously overlooked.
Previous studies on the impact of sea spray in hurricanes have relied on proxy measurements and simplifications to estimate its effects. However, these methods did not fully capture how sea spray increased the energy that fueled storms, especially at higher wind speeds. The weather model used in this research incorporated a wave model to improve accuracy in predicting sea spray production and its impact on heat and moisture transfer to the atmosphere, resulting in more accurate storm intensity forecasts. This study focused on analyzing data from four major Atlantic Ocean hurricanes and four Pacific Ocean typhoons to validate their findings.
Meteorologists generally are proficient at predicting a hurricane’s path, but there is room for improvement in forecasting storm intensity. This collaboration between researchers in South Korea and Florida State University has shown that modifying operational models to account for the influence of sea spray can lead to more accurate intensity forecasts. Future research could focus on understanding rapid intensification of storms, further enhancing hurricane forecasting capabilities. The research team consisted of members from FSU and various institutions in South Korea, and the study was supported by several organizations in Korea involved in oceanography, environmental technology, and meteorology.
Overall, the research conducted by the collaboration between researchers in South Korea and Florida State University has shed light on the importance of considering the effects of sea spray in improving hurricane intensity forecasts. By incorporating a wave model into their weather model, researchers were able to better understand how sea spray influences the transfer of heat and moisture in storms, resulting in more accurate predictions of storm intensity. This study has implications for future research on rapid intensification of storms and could contribute to refining operational models to enhance hurricane forecasting capabilities.