Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 8 5 2008 10.5194/acpd-8-17423-2008 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/17423/2008/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/17423/2008/acpd-8-17423-2008.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/17423/2008/acpd-8-17423-2008.pdf 17423 17437 2008-09-19 On the validity of representing hurricanes as Carnot heat engine A. M. Makarieva makariev@thd.pnpi.spb.ru V. G. Gorshkov B.-L. Li Theoretical Physics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, 188300, Gatchina, St. Petersburg, Russia CAU-UCR International Center for Ecology and Sustainability, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA It is argued, on the basis of detailed critique of published literature, that the existing thermodynamic theory of hurricanes, where it is assumed that the hurricane power is formed due to heat input from the ocean, is not physically consistent, as it comes in conflict with the first and second laws of thermodynamics. A quantitative perspective of describing hurricane energetics as that of an adiabatic atmospheric process occurring at the expense of condensation of water vapor that creates drop of local air pressure, is outlined. Bister, M. and Emanuel, K. A.: Dissipative heating and hurricane intensity, Meteorol. Atmos. Phys., 65, 233–240, 1998. Businger, S. and Businger, J. A.: Viscous dissipation of turbulence kinetic energy in storms, J. Atmos. Sci., 58, 3793–3796, 2001. Eastin, M. D., Gray, W. M., and Black, P. G.: Buoyancy of convective vertical motions in the inner core of intense hurricanes. Part I: General statistics, Mon. Weather Rev., 133, 188–208, 2005. Emanuel, K. A.: An air-sea interaction theory for tropical cyclones. Part I: Steady-state maintenance, J. Atmos. Sci., 43, 585–604, 1986. Emanuel, K. A.: The theory of hurricanes, Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., 23, 179–196, 1991. Emanuel, K. A.: Sensitivity of tropical cyclones to surface exchange coefficients and a revised steady-state model incorporating eye dynamics, J. Atmos. Sci., 52, 3969–3976, 1995. Emanuel, K. A.: Tropical cyclones, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 31, 75–104, 2003. Emanuel, K. A.: Divine wind: The history and science of hurricanes, Oxford University Press, New York, 2005. Emanuel, K. A.: Hurricanes: Tempests in a greenhouse, Phys. Today, 59, 74–75, 2006. Hatzianastassiou, N., Matsoukas, C., Fotiadi, A., Pavlakis, K. G., Drakakis, E., Hatzidimitriou, D., and Vardavas, I.: Global distribution of Earth's surface shortwave radiation budget, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 5, 2847–2867, 2005. Holland, G. J.: The maximum potential intensity of tropical cyclones, J. Atmos. Sci., 54, 2519–2541, 1997. Lorenz, E. N.: The nature and theory of the general circulation of the atmosphere, World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, 1967. Makarieva, A. M., Gorshkov, V. G., and Li, B.-L.: Conservation of water cycle on land via restoration of natural closed-canopy forests: Implications for regional landscape planning, Ecol. Res., 21, 897–906, 2006. Makarieva, A. M. and Gorshkov, V. G.: Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture as driver of the hydrological cycle on land, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1013–1033, 2007. Samsury, C. E. and Zipser, E. J.: Secondary wind maxima in hurricanes: Airflow and relationships to rainbands, Mon. Weather Rev., 123, 3502–3517, 1995. Wurman, J., Straka, J. M., and Rasmussen, E. N.: Fine-scale Doppler radar observations of tornadoes, Science, 272, 1774–1777, 1996. Zrnić, D. and Istok, M.: Wind speeds in two tornadic storms and a tornado, deduced from Doppler spectra, J. Appl. Meteorol., 19, 1405–1415, 1980.