1. Hurricane Thermodynamics
Alex MacIntosh
Cam Mateus
Steve Lazar

2. Costliest Hurricanes Katrina – 2005 – $81 Billion
Andrew – 1992 – $26.5 Billion
Wilma – 2005 – $20.6 Billion
Charley – 2004 – $15 Billion
Difficult to study: immense power
About 48 of 80 tropical cyclones qualify in terms of intensity

3. Physical Structure Storms form in the tropics Three main parts
The eye
Eyewall
Rainbands
Axisymmetric Vortex
Hydrostatic and Rotational Balance

4. Carnot Engines Thermodynamic disequilibrium Four Sequences
Isothermal Expansion
Adiabatic Expansion
Isothermal Compression
Adiabatic Compression

5. Equations Efficiency of Carnot Engine
Carnot’s Theorem to predict maximum wind speed

6. Climate Change Greenhouse gases and effects on hurricanes
Carnot’s Theorem: Temperature difference and intensity of hurricane
Adiabatic expansion increased
Greater wind velocity

7. How Temperature Variation Effects Wind Velocity
When T1 = 25C, the Vmax is ~ 5.85 m/s When T1 = 30C, the Vmax is ~ 8.34 m/s This is a stunning 50% increase in the wind velocity!

8. How? Apply a cryogenic coolant Transport and deliver coolant using
Nitrogen gas
Carbon Dioxide
Air
Water
Transport and deliver coolant using
Plane
Ship
Barge
Remotely Controlled?

9. Thermal Updrafts Strongest Thermal Updraft
At the down tilt right region of Hurricane
Apply Coolant There
From Nat. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

10. What? Coolant does: Decreases updraft temperature
Increase wind shear w/ large solid coolant pieces
Higher the wind shear---weaker the storm
From

11. Clausius-Clapeyron

12. Citations
Emanuel, K.A., The Theory of Hurricanes. Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 23 (1991)
Tropical Cyclone Structure. [cited November 27, 2008]; Available from:
Kondepudi, Dilip. Introduction to Modern Thermodynamics. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2008.
Emanuel, K.A., Tropical Cyclones. Annu. Rev. Earth. Planet. Sci., 31 (2003)
Atmospheric thermodynamics. [cited November 26, 2008]; Available from:
Mooney, C. The Truth About the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season [cited October 26, 2008]; Available from:
O’Keefe, D.R., Hurricane Abatement Method and System, U.P.T. Office, Editor : USA