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Keith234
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Subtropical Systems
      #20597 - Fri Aug 20 2004 06:18 PM

What is the difference between a subtropical system and a hurricane? Ex. is it a warm or cold core system, goes it produce hurricane force wind and does it run on temperature difference(baroclinic)

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"I became insane with horrible periods of sanity"
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Jamiewx
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Re: Subtropical Systems [Re: Keith234]
      #20606 - Fri Aug 20 2004 08:50 PM

This information comes from the Hurricane Research Division FAQ webpage

"Subject: A6) What is a sub-tropical cyclone?
A sub-tropical cyclone is a low-pressure system existing in the tropical or subtropical latitudes (anywhere from the equator to about 50°N) that has characteristics of both tropical cyclones and mid-latitude (or extratropical) cyclones. Therefore, many of these cyclones exist in a weak to moderate horizontal temperature gradient region (like mid-latitude cyclones), but also receive much of their energy from convective clouds (like tropical cyclones). Often, these storms have a radius of maximum winds which is farther out (on the order of 100-200 km [60-125 miles] from the center) than what is observed for purely "tropical" systems. Additionally, the maximum sustained winds for sub-tropical cyclones have not been observed to be stronger than about 33 m/s (64 kts, 74 mph)).

Many times these subtropical storms transform into true tropical cyclones. A recent example is the Atlantic basin's Hurricane Florence in November 1994 which began as a subtropical cyclone before becoming fully tropical. Note there has been at least one occurrence of tropical cyclones transforming into a subtropical storm (e.g. Atlantic basin storm 8 in 1973).

Subtropical cyclones in the Atlantic basin are classified by the maximum sustained surface winds:

less than 18 m/s (34 kts, 39 mph) - "subtropical depression",
greater than or equal to 18 m/s (34 kts, 39 mph) - "subtropical storm"
Prior to 2002 subtropical storms were not given names, but the National Hurricane Center issued forecasts and warnings similar to those for tropical cyclones. Now they are given names from the tropical cyclone list."


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Anonymous
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Re: Subtropical Systems [Re: Jamiewx]
      #20609 - Fri Aug 20 2004 09:45 PM

Thanks for the anwser it was very informative.

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Keith234
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Re: Subtropical Systems [Re: Anonymous]
      #20610 - Fri Aug 20 2004 09:47 PM

That was me above, I forgot to login!

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"I became insane with horrible periods of sanity"
Edgar Allan Poe


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HanKFranK
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Loc: Graniteville, SC
subtropical system in may, padgett's poll [Re: Keith234]
      #20631 - Sat Aug 21 2004 05:26 PM

gary padgett, who does a comprehensive reanalysis and historic inventory of tropical cyclones from around the world, has posted his may report finally.. that contains info on both the may caribbean system that caused the terrible loss of life via flash flooding in hispaniola.. and a poll of questions posed to many of the world's foremost experts on tropical weather about how to operationally classify and handle subtropical systems. go check it out.
Typhoon2K archives, gary padgett reports link


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