The effect of moisture on the kinetic energy budget of a Mediterranean cyclone

A diagnostic energetics analysis is used to study the effects of moisture-r elated processes on a developing cyclone over the Mediterranean. This is do ne by using the moist wind component to calculate the energy budget and the n the effect due to wind field changes on the kinetic energy budget is illu strated. The horizontal flux convergence serves as a major energy budget source in b oth cases tactual and moist wind), although the magnitude values of this te rm are small in the case of the moist wind. Generation of kinetic energy, i s generally tin the case of moist wind), a prominent sink during the life c ycle of the cyclone, and its values are greater than the corresponding ones for the actual wind field except at the decay period. Subgrid-scale source s of kinetic energy provide a substantial energy gain throughout the life c ycle of the cyclone. The values of the dissipation term differ from using t he actual or moist components where its values an influenced by the Values of the other terms in the budget. The baroclinic generation due to the dive rgent moist wind component offsets by 80.8% and 12.1% for the barotropic de struction of kinetic energy by the rotational moist wind component. The div ergent moist wind component was found to be very important in the synoptic- scale environments of the cyclogenesis. Both demonstrate that the divergent moist wind component is as important as the rotational moist wind componen t in producing generation and horizontal flux divergence of kinetic energy. Generation of kinetic energy by the divergent moist wind component seems t o be a major factor leading to the creation of upper-level wind maxima nort h of the storm areas. Thus, these diagnostic findings suggest possible modi fications to the wind field by investigating the role of the divergent mois t wind component and may also be fruitful in exploring the effects of cyclo gensis on the large-scale environment.