1.

Introduction
a. Although several aspects of the structure and maintenance of mature tropical cyclones
are relatively well understood, the origin of tropical cyclogenesis is still an active area of
research. Existing theories of cyclogenesis, including CISK and WISHE, cannot address
the earlier transition from cloud cluster or wave to depression.
b. Judge by the density, the Eastern Pacific region is the most active tropical cyclone
formation region. Nearly 70% of the storms form in the region bounded by 10N and
20N latitude, 110 W longitude and the west coast of Mexico. This high concentration
of tropical cyclogenesis sites observed near the west coast of Mexico (Fig 1) suggests
that mechanisms that produce initial disturbances specifically in this region are
significant. Thus, the role of the local terrain becomes an appealing target for
investigation of cyclogenesis because of their potency to produce initial disturbances.
c. Factors that influence the regions frequent cyclogenesis
i. Warm SST
ii. Narrow ITCZ
2. Effect of orography
3. Simulation
a. Zehnder
b.
4. Observation studies
5.
6. Model simulation schemes
a. Equatorial beta plane model
b.
7. Zehnder
a. Using the criteria developed
b. Modification of the easterly wave by topography and results in the production of
positive vorticity in the lee of the mountains. Parcels incident upon the mountain are
turned southward by the mountain anticyclone. As they reach the south end of the
ridge, with decreased planetary vorticity, the conservation of absolute vorticity equip
these parcels with cyclonic vorticity. This may account for a region of enhanced relative
vorticity downstream of the topography.
c. Another type of mountain interaction with the easterly wave is the production of shear
vorticity and an easterly jet in the lee of the mountain. This can be explained by the
conservation of Ertel Potential Vorticity. As the easterly wave approaches the mountain,
it decelerates, became subgeostrophic and turned left. This motion creates cyclonic
vorticity and a decrease in planetary vorticity. As the parcel reaches the south end of the
mountain, it is no longer blocked by the mountain. The parcel then curved
anticyclonically, at which point compared to the initial stage, the parcel has a decrease
in planetary and curvature vorticity, and an increase in shear vorticity is required to
conserve potential vorticity. It is this positive shear vorticity that produces an easterly
jet.
d. A third mechanism is the channeling of the flow through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
resulting in a northerly jet.
e. The easterly jet along the coast, the notherly jet through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
along with the southwesterly surge in the ITCZ forms the low level closed circulation
8. These disturbances are continuously produced in the lee of the mountain, resulting in a low
level easterly wave train in the region of the simulations that corresponds to the eastern North
Pacific
9. Here the evidence suggests that it is the strength of the waves reaching Central America that
determines the likelihood of eastern Pacific cyclogenesis.
10. In addition to modifying the lee vorticity maxima convection may play an important role in
governing the general character of the flow over the terrain. The jet formation shown in our
model simulations depends critically on the flow being around rather than over the mountain.
Some amount of upstream lifting may act to release conditional instability and alter the vertical
velocity upstream of the mountain, thus decreasing the blocking that dominates the
simulations. The effects of convection on both the upstream flow and the evolution of the
disturbances downstream will be addressed in future work.