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Detailed Reference Information
Bright et al. 2002
Bright, R.J., Xie, L. and Pietrafesa, L.J. (2002). Evidence of the Gulf Stream's influence on tropical cyclone intensity. Geophysical Research Letters 29: doi: 10.1029/2002GL014920. issn: 0094-8276.

Historical storm data and satellite imagery are analyzed to determine the intensity changes and storm-related characteristics of 53 coastal and landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) from Florida to North Carolina that passed over the Gulf Stream (GS) during the period 1944--2000. It appears that less intense storms (Category 2 or weaker), as well as those occurring earlier in the Atlantic hurricane season, are more likely to be strengthened by the GS. In addition, 81% of the Category 2 or weaker storms that intensified based on both maximum wind speed (MWS) and minimum central pressure (MCP) had tracks approximately parallel to the GS, while 3 of the 5 major (Category 3--5) hurricanes that intensified based on both MWS and MCP tracked perpendicular to the GS. The presence of an upstream mid-latitude trough could have contributed to the intensification of the weaker TCs by steering them along the GS.

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Abstract

Keywords
Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Tropical meteorology, Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Ocean/atmosphere interactions (0312, 4504), Oceanography, Physical, Western boundary currents, Oceanography, Physical, Air/sea interactions
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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