Fujiwhara effect

The Fujiwhara effect, sometimes referred to as the Fujiwara effect, Fujiw(h)ara interaction or binary interaction, is a phenomenon that occurs when two nearby cyclonic vortices move around each other and close the distance between the circulations of their corresponding low-pressure areas. The effect is named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, the Japanese meteorologist who initially described the effect. Binary interaction of smaller circulations can cause the development of a larger cyclone, or cause two cyclones to merge into one. Extratropical cyclones typically engage in binary interaction when within 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of one another, while tropical cyclones typically interact within 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) of each other.

Typhoon Parma (left) and Melor (right) interacting with each other in the Philippine Sea on October 6, 2009.

Description
Diagram of the Fujiwhara effect, showing how 2 tropical cyclones interact with each other.[1]

When cyclones are in proximity of one another, their centers will circle each other cyclonically (counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere)[2] about a point between the two systems due to their cyclonic wind circulations. The two vortices will be attracted to each other, and eventually spiral into the center point and merge. It has not been agreed upon whether this is due to the divergent portion of the wind or vorticity advection.[3] When the two vortices are of unequal size, the larger vortex will tend to dominate the interaction, and the smaller vortex will circle around it. The effect is named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, the Japanese meteorologist who initially described it in a 1921 paper about the motion of vortices in water.[4][5]

Tropical cyclones
See also: Tropical cyclone
Odette (left) and Seroja (right) engaged in a Fujiwhara interaction whilst intensifying between 7–9 April 2021.

Tropical cyclones can form when smaller circulations within the Intertropical Convergence Zone merge.[6] The effect is often mentioned in relation to the motion of tropical cyclones, although the final merging of the two storms is uncommon. The effect becomes noticeable when they approach within 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) of each other. Rotation rates within binary pairs accelerate when tropical cyclones close within 650 kilometres (400 mi) of each other.[7] Merger of the two systems (or shearing out of one of the pair) becomes realized when they are within 300 kilometres (190 mi) of one another.[8]

Extratropical cyclones
See also: Extratropical cyclone

Binary interaction is seen between nearby extratropical cyclones when within 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of each other, with significant acceleration occurring when the low-pressure areas are within 1,100 kilometres (680 mi) of one another. Interactions between their circulations at the 500 hPa level (18,000 feet above sea level) behave more predictably than their surface circulations.[7] This most often results in a merging of the two low-pressure systems into a single extratropical cyclone, or can less commonly result in a change of direction of one or both of the cyclones.[9] The precise results of such interactions depend on factors such as the size of the two cyclones, their distance from each other, and the prevailing atmospheric conditions around them.

See also

References
  1. Wu, Chun-Chieh; Huang, Treng-Shi; Huang, Wei-Peng; Chou, Kun-Hsuan (July 2003). "A New Look at the Binary Interaction: Potential Vorticity Diagnosis of the Unusual Southward Movement of Tropical Storm Bopha (2000) and Its Interaction with Supertyphoon Saomai (2000)". Monthly Weather Review. 131 (7): 1289–1300. Bibcode:2003MWRv..131.1289W. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(2003)131<1289:ANLATB>2.0.CO;2. S2CID 53572369.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Landsea, Chris (2009-02-06). "Subject: D3) Why do tropical cyclones' winds rotate counter-clockwise (clockwise) in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere?". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  3. DeMaria, Mark; Johnny C. L. Chan (August 1984). "Comments on "A Numerical Study of the Interactions between Two Cyclones". Mon. Wea. Rev. 112 (8): 1643–1645. Bibcode:1984MWRv..112.1643D. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1984)112<1643:CONSOT>2.0.CO;2.
  4. Fujiwhara, Sakuhei (1921). "The natural tendency towards symmetry of motion and its application as a principle in meteorology". Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. 47 (200): 287–293. Bibcode:1921QJRMS..47..287F. doi:10.1002/qj.49704720010.
  5. "Fujiwhara effect describes a stormy waltz". USA Today. November 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  6. Kieu, Chanh Q.; Da-Lin Zhang (June 2010). "Genesis of Tropical Storm Eugene (2005) from Merging Vortices Associated with ITCZ Breakdowns. Part III: Sensitivity to Various Genesis Parameters". J. Atmos. Sci. 67 (6): 1745–1758. Bibcode:2010JAtS...67.1745K. doi:10.1175/2010JAS3227.1. S2CID 55906577.
  7. Ziv, B; P. Alpert (1995-05-01). "Rotation of Binary Cyclones – A Data Analysis Study". J. Atmos. Sci. 52 (9): 1357–1363. Bibcode:1995JAtS...52.1357Z. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1995)052<1357:ROBCDA>2.0.CO;2.
  8. Prieto, Ricardo, Brian D. McNoldy, Scott R. Fulton, and Wayne H. Schubert (November 2003). "A Classification of Binary Tropical Cyclone–Like Vortex Interactions". Mon. Wea. Rev. 131 (11): 2659. Bibcode:2003MWRv..131.2656P. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(2003)131<2656:acobtc>2.0.co;2. S2CID 18784887.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Ziv, B.; P. Alpert (December 2003). "Rotation of mid-latitude binary cyclones: a potential vorticity approach". Theor Appl Climatol. 76 (3–4): 189–202. Bibcode:2003ThApC..76..189Z. doi:10.1007/s00704-003-0011-x. S2CID 54982309.
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