GEPJournal of Geoscience and Environment Protection2327-4336Scientific Research Publishing10.4236/gep.2018.612001GEP-88947ArticlesEarth&Environmental Sciences The Role Played by Blocking System over North America on the Development of Hurricane Ophelia over North Atlantic Ocean YehiaHafez1*AbdulhaleemLabban1Department of Meteorology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA04122018061212024, October 20181, December 2018 4, December 2018© Copyright 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. 2014This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As one of very rare and unusual tracks of hurricane Ophelia, it exists over the North Atlantic Ocean during the period of 9-17 October 2017. The present work investigates the role played by blocking system over North America on the development of hurricane Ophelia. The 6-hour daily data of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis composites for the meteorological parameters are used. The meteorological elements used in the present work are (geopotential height and meridional wind components at 500-hpa level). The domain of this data is the northern hemisphere domain. Moreover, the 6-hour data on the surface pressure at the center of hurricane Ophelia and its maximum wind through the period (9-17 October) have been used. The time series, anomaly and correlation coefficient methods have been used to analyze the meteorological data. The results revealed that the persistence of blocking high system over the North America during the period of 9-17 October 2017 controls the development, strength, and the track of hurricane Ophelia over the North Atlantic Ocean.

Blocking System North America North Atlantic Ocean Hurricane Ophelia1. Introduction

Hurricane Ophelia developed over the North Atlantic Ocean on 9 October 2017. It was considered as the easternmost major hurricane (Category 3 intensity) according to Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricanes. The hurricane Ophelia initiated near the west of the Azores as a tropical storm. It dissipated over Ireland and United Kingdom on 17 October 2017 as an extratropical storm. Three deaths occurred in Ireland directly attributed to Ophelia. The total losses from the storm estimated at US$ 1.18 billion in Ireland and around US$ 13 million in the United Kingdom ( Moore, 2018 ). Figures 1-3 illustrate the satellite images of the development, dissipation and the track of hurricane Ophelia. This hurricane is one of very rare and unusual tracks of hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean. This storm steadily strengthened over the first days before becoming a hurricane on 11 October. After becoming a Category 2 hurricane and turning in intensity for a day, Ophelia intensified into a major hurricane (of category 3) on 14 October, south of the Azores. Archipelago is near the Azores Savard from a severe weather with strong winds and heavy rainfall. After achieving peak intensity, Ophelia began sapping as it accelerated over progressively colder waters to its northeast towards Ireland and Great Britain ( Stewart, 2018 ). However, there are several literatures studying the teleconnection between the existences of Atlantic hurricanes and blocking over the northern hemisphere ( McTaggart -Cowan et al., 2006

Pezza & Simmonds, 2006; Hafez, 2008; Hafez, 2011; Mattingly et al., 2014). The blocking systems control the atmospheric circulation and weather conditions in the northern hemisphere (Treidl et al., 1981; Park & Ahn, 2014; Whan et al., 2016; Brunner & Steiner, 2017). In fact, blocking high episodes have a great impact on the weather and climate of several areas because they are depicted by the sudden change in the atmospheric flow, affecting the normal synoptic systems (Sinclair, 1996; Wiedenmann et al., 2002; Renwick, 2005; Hafez, 2012; Hafez & Almazroui, 2013; Hafez & Almazroui, 2016). However, there are several criteria for blocking definition. The Rex definition of blocking is defined the blocking episodes by using of synoptic charts and putting quantitative conditions (Rex, 1950a, 1950b, 1951). Dole (1982) defines the blocking episode using of numeric conditions. The present work aims to study the anomaly of geopotential height and meridional wind component over the North America and Atlantic Ocean during the period of hurricane Ophelia; moreover study the correlation relation between them and the characteristics of hurricane Ophelia (development, strength, track); finally, uncover the teleconnection between the blocking system persist over North America and the existing, developments and extreme track of hurricane Ophelia over the northern Atlantic Ocean through the period of 9-17 October 2017.

2. Data and Methodology

The 6-hour data of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis composites for the meteorological parameters are used. The NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis 1 project is using a state-of-the-art analysis/forecast system to perform data assimilation using past data from 1948 to the present. A large subset of this data is available from PSD in its original 4 times daily format and as daily averages. The meteorological elements used in the present work are geopotential height and meridional wind components at 500-hpa level. The domain of the present study is the northern hemisphere including the area over the North America and north Atlantic regions. The NCEP/NCAR gridded for these meteorological data are with temporal interpolation of 2.5-degree latitude × 2.5-degree longitude. The period of this data is the period of hurricane Ophelia (9-17 October 2017). The long-term mean for 6-hour values of the meteorological parameters taken over the period (1981-2010). This data supported from the site of NOAA/OAR/ESRL PSD, Boulder, Colorado, USA and according to (Kalnay et al., 1996). In addition to that, the 6-hour of meteorological elements of hurricane Ophelia surface pressure and wind speed used in the present study (Stewart, 2018). The data sets analyzed using time series, anomaly methodology and linear correlation coefficient techniques (Hafez & Almazroui, 2013). The correlation analysis follows the Pearson correlation method according to Kendall and Stuart (1973). Moreover, the satellite images of hurricane Ophelia and its track has used.

3. Blocking Criteria

To clarify the role of blocking system on the development, hurricane Ophelia the definition of blocking episode needed first. In fact, there are several definitions of blocking systems. Some of them are according to the synoptic criteria and other definitions according to numeric criteria. The synoptic and numeric criteria of the blocking formation systems are defined by Rex (1950a, 1950b, 1951), Namias (1964), Dole and Gordon (1983) and Dole (1986). For the purpose of the present study, the blocking system defined based on criteria of Rex (1950a, 1950b) and Dole (1986). In this work, the definition using synoptic charts side by side to anomaly conditions of geopotential height conditions at the 500-hPa level. These criteria have basic conditions such as the westerly air current aloft must split to two distinct branches. This splitting must be northern latitude of 30˚N. The using of these synoptic criteria has advantage for clarify the synoptic situation of the main westerly air current aloft and initiation of the blocking case in the atmospheric air weather charts. For numeric, quantitatively, the anomaly in geopotential height value at 500 hPa level must be more than +100 m for a high pressure flag for several longitudes. In addition to that, the anomaly is less or equal (−100 m) for low pressure flag for several longitudes. Moreover, these conditions must persist more than or equal to five continues days. This numeric method has exact quantitative values for blocking detection.

4. Results and Discussion4.1. Analysis of the Meteorological Elements of Hurricane Ophelia (9-17 October 2017)

Time series analysis has been used to analysis the variation of surface pressure at the center of hurricane Ophelia and the maximum wind through the period (9-17 October 2017). The results revealed that:

1) The surface pressure gradually decreased from 1008 hpa on 9 October 0000 UTC to reach to 966 hpa on 13 October 0600 UTC. After that, it has slightly increased to reach 974 to 13 October 1200 UTC. The pressure values decrease again to record 963 hpa on 14 October 0600 UTC. Through the period (14 October 1200 UTC to 15 October 1800 UTC), the pressure is a constant value of 959 hpa. The surface pressure become increasing sharply from 959 hpa on 16 October 1200 UTC to reach its maximum value 997 hpa on the dissipation of the hurricane Ophelia on 17 October 1800 UTC. The variability of surface pressure at the center of the hurricane is completely clear in Table 1 and Figure 4.

2) The wind strength analysis clarifies that the hurricane Ophelia has seven stages of initiation on 9 October to the dissipation on 17 October 2017. It developed as a tropical storm on 9 October 0000 UTC with maximum wind 35 knots. This stage continues until 11 October 1200 UTC to wind reached to 60 knots. After that time, it becomes a hurricane of category 1 according to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale and the wind reached to 80 knots on 12 October 1200 UTC. The Ophelia reached to category 2 on 12 October 1800 UTC and stay in this category to 14 October 0600 UTC and record on it a maximum wind of 95 knots. It has reached to category 3 on 14 October 1200 UTC and stay shortly to 1800 UTC through that day with maximum wind recorded 100 knots. This wind value is the highest value of wind of hurricane Ophelia through its life period. On 15 October 0000 UTC hurricane Ophelia weakness to category 2 and the maximum wind reached to 85 knots on 15 October 1200 UTC. The weakness of hurricane Ophelia continues to reach to category on and the maximum wind record is 65 knots on 16 October 1200 UTC. Finally, it becomes an extratropical storm and reach to the dissipation stage on 17 October 1800 UTC within the wind record is 40 knots. The wind values and its variations clarified in Table 1 and Figure 5. It is clear that the highest wind speed is nearest to the point of

The characteristics of hurricane Ophelia from 09 October to 17 October 2017 each 6 hours
Date/Time (UTC)Latitude (˚N)Longitude (˚W)Pressure (mb)Wind Speed (kt)Hurricane Category
09/000030.540100835Tropical storm
09/060030.940100835
09/120031.340100835
09/180031.739.6100540
10/00003239.1100540
10/060031.938.8100345
10/120031.638.5100245
10/180031.338.2100245
11/000030.937.8100050
11/060030.437.299855
11/12003036.799460
11/180029.836.299165Category 1
12/000029.935.898670
12/060030.235.798275
12/120030.435.797580
12/180030.535.697185Category 2
13/000030.535.196790
13/060030.934.496690
13/120031.433.497480
13/18003232.597380
14/000032.631.597085
14/060033.429.796395
14/120034.227.7959100Category 3
14/180035.325.2959100
15/000036.422.695995Category 2
15/060037.919.895990
15/120039.91795985
15/180043.114.395980Category 1
16/000047.613.495875
16/06005012.195770
16/120052.31095965
16/180055.38.396960Extratropical storm
17/000057.36.197750
17/060058.72.998745
17/120059.31.5E99440
17/180060.15.3E99740

[Source: Stewart (2018)].

minimum value of pressure 957 hpa at the center of hurricane Ophelia. Whereas, the lower pressure values became constant of 959 hpa.

4.2. Study of the Anomaly of Geopotential Height at 500 hpa over North America and West of the Atlantic Ocean through the Period (9-17 October 2017)

A 6 hour daily data of geopotential height at 500 hpa over north America and west of the Atlantic ocean through the period (9-17 October 2017) has been used to study the anomaly of geopotential height to catch the blocking episode and the blocking system. Analysis of this anomaly revealed that:-

1) Over the North America, it is found that there is a negative anomaly of geopotential height less than (−100 m) and arranged between (−100 m) to (−225 m) over the 500 hpa level through the period 09 October to 11 October 1200 UTC. Meanwhile, there is a positive anomaly more than (+100 m) from the day of 11 October 1800 UTC to the day of 16 October 0000 UTC. This positive anomaly arranged between (+175 m and +250 m). After that period and to the end of the time interval of hurricane Ophelia there is a negative anomaly values arranged from (−100 m) to (−150 m).It is noticed that the days of 12 October and 14 October recorded the maximum positive anomaly (+200 m) through the whole period of hurricane Ophelia. As it is clear from the Table 2 and Figure 6.

2) Over the west of the Atlantic ocean, it has become clear that the period from 9 October to 11 October there is a positive anomaly of (+100 m) or more and arranged between (+100 m) and (+250 m). For all the period after that period there is a negative anomaly from (−150 m) to (−300 m). It is noticed that, the day 12 October to day 14 October recorded the maximum negative anomaly between (−200 m and −300 m). The day of 12 October is the day of the highest negative anomaly with (−300 m) through the period of hurricane Ophelia. As shown in Table 2 and Figure 6.

The 6 hours anomaly of geopotential height at level 500 hpa over the North America and west of Atlantic Ocean during the period of hurricane Ophelia (9-17 October 2017)
Date/Time (UTC)Anomaly of geopotential height at 500 hpa level (m)
Over north AmericaOver west of Atlantic Ocean
09/0000−200200
09/0600−225225
09/1200−175225
09/1800−125250
10/0000−150250
10/0600−150200
10/1200−150200
10/1800−100150
11/0000−100200
11/0600−150150
11/1200−200100
11/1800200150
12/0000200−300
12/0600200−300
12/1200200−300
12/1800250−300
13/0000200−200
13/0600225−225
13/1200250−200
13/1800225−225
14/0000200−200
14/0600200−175
14/1200200−175
14/1800175−175
15/0000200−150
15/0600175−150
15/1200200−150
15/1800175−100
16/0000175−100
16/0600−100−100
16/1200−100−100
16/1800−125−200
17/0000−150−200
17/0600−100−200
17/1200−150−200
17/1800−175−175

3) Figure 7 shows that the anomaly of 6-hour geopotential height (m) at 500 hpa level over north America varies contradicted to its values over the west Atlantic ocean through the period of hurricane Ophelia (9-17 October 2017).

4.3. Study of the Anomaly of Meridional Wind Component at 500 hpa over West and East of Atlantic Ocean through the Period (9-17 October 2017)

A 6 hour daily data of the meridional wind component at 500 hpa over the west and east of the Atlantic ocean through the period (9-17 October 2017) has been used to study the anomaly of the meridional wind component. Analysis of this anomaly revealed that:

1) Over the west Atlantic ocean, it is clear that the meridional wind is a southerly wind with anomaly reached (−17.5 m/s) for the period from 09 October 0000 UTC to 10 October 0600 UTC. From 11 October 0000 UTC to the day of 16 October 0600 UTC, there are negative anomaly of meridional wind component and the wind is southerly wind. The maximum negative anomaly is reached to (−30 m/s) on the end of the day of 16 October and stay for the day of 0000 UTC. The meridional wind becomes northward from the day of 16 October 1200 UTC until the dissipation of hurricane Ophelia on 17 October. Table 3 and Figure 8 illustrates the variations of meridional wind components over the west Atlantic Ocean.

2) Over the east Atlantic Ocean, it found that, the meridional wind is a northerly wind from the day of 9 October to the start of the day of 11 October. The northerly wind anomaly reached to (+15 m/s) through that period. From the night of the day 11 October until the mid of the day of 17 October, the meridional wind is completely north wind over the east part of the Atlantic Ocean. It

The 6 hours anomaly of meridional wind component at level 500 hpa over the west and east Atlantic Ocean during the period of hurricane Ophelia (9-17 October 2017)
Date/Time (UTC)Anomaly of meridional wind component (m/s) at 500 hpa level
Over west Atlantic OceanOver east Atlantic Ocean
09/0000−1515
09/0600−17.515
09/1200−17.512.5
09/1800−1515
10/0000−1510
10/0600−12.515
10/1200010
10/1800010
11/0000−1010
11/0600−10−10
11/1200−150
11/1800−1015
12/0000−1015
12/0600−1010
12/1200−1010
12/1800−1015
13/0000−1015
13/0600−1520
13/1200−2020
13/1800−2520
14/0000−2525
14/0600−2525
14/1200−22.522.5
14/1800−2525
15/0000−1525
15/0600−1525
15/1200−2525
15/1800−3030
16/0000−3020
16/0600−2525
16/12001520
16/18001020
17/00001525
17/06002025
17/120020−25
17/180020−30

reaches its maximum positive anomaly of (+30 m/s) on the day of 15 October. For the two days 14 and 15 October, the meridional wind anomaly is a higher value between 25 m/s and 30 m/s. Table 3 and Figure 8 illustrates the variations of meridional wind components over the west Atlantic Ocean.

3) Figure 9 illustrates that the variability of 6-hour anomaly of meridional wind component at 500 hpa level over the west Atlantic ocean is contradicting to the east Atlantic ocean through the period of hurricane Ophelia (9-17 October 2017).

4.4. The Teleconnection between the Development of Hurricane Ophelia and the Blocking System over North America

To study the teleconnection between the development of hurricane Ophelia and the blocking system over North America linear correlation coefficient technique used. The maximum wind speed and the surface pressure at the center of hurricane Ophelia has been correlation test with the blocking system persist over north America and Atlantic ocean through the period (9-17 October) of the year 2017. The results revealed that:-

1) There is a strong positive correlation coefficient of (0.890) between the surface pressure at the center of hurricane Ophelia and the geopotential height anomaly at 500 hpa level over the west Atlantic Ocean as shown in Table 4.

2) There is an outstanding negative correlation coefficient of (−0.859) between the maximum wind speed for the hurricane Ophelia and the pressure at the center of Ophelia. As illustrated in Table 4.

3) There is a significant positive correlation coefficient of (0.703) between the maximum wind speed for the hurricane Ophelia and geopotential height anomaly at 500 hpa level over the west Atlantic Ocean. As clear from Table 4.

The correlation coefficient matrix of the hurricane Ophelia parameters and meteorological parameters over North America and North Atlantic Ocean through the period (9-17 October 2017)
Correlation coefficient and Meteorological parametersMaximum wind of Opheliapressure at the center of OpheliaGeopotential height anomaly at 500 hpa level over north AmericaGeopotential height anomaly at 500 hpa level over west Atlantic OceanMeridional wind component at 500 hpa level over west Atlantic OceanMeridional wind component at 500 hpa level over east Atlantic Ocean
Maximum wind of Ophelia1−0.859*−0.6800.703**0.307−0.575
pressure at the center of Ophelia−0.859*10.890*−0.673−0.5030.505
Geopotential height anomaly at 500 hpa level over north America−0.6800.890*1−0.658−0.4980.455
Geopotential height anomaly at 500 hpa level over west Atlantic Ocean0.703**−0.673−0.6581−0.088−0.170
Meridional wind component at 500 hpa level over west Atlantic Ocean0.307−0.503−0.498−0.0881−0.496
Meridional wind component at 500 hpa level over east Atlantic Ocean−0.5750.5040.455−0.170−0.4961

*: with significant level > 99%; **: with significant level > 95%.

The present work using the NCEP/NCAR 6 hour reanalysis data of meteorological parameters geopotential height and meridional wind component at 500 hpa level for the northern hemisphere to study the unique hurricane Ophelia. Hurricane Ophelia has an unusual position of formation and extremely track over the North Atlantic Ocean through the period (9 -17) October 2017. Its development stages and its dissipation have been analyzed. The anomaly of geopotential height and meridional wind component at level of 500 hpa studied through the period of hurricane Ophelia. Moreover, the meteorological parameters of surface pressure and maximum wind of hurricane Ophelia analyzed. The criteria of existence of blocking episode examined through the period of hurricane Ophelia. From the results, it has become clear that the distribution of positive anomaly and negative anomaly of geopotential height at 500 hpa level over the north America and north Atlantic region control the development, strength and the track of hurricane Ophelia toward the northward. In addition to that, there are strong direct relationships between the existing, strength and track of Ophelia and the persistence of blocking high over the northern America through the period of study. One can conclude that the persistence of a huge blocking high episode over the North America creates a deep of the low pressure system over the north west of the Atlantic Ocean. This dipole of a pressure system causes the development and control the strength and track of hurricane Ophelia. This unique distribution of the pressure system over North America and north of Atlantic Ocean leads to a low pressure system appears over north Atlantic instead of its normal distribution of the Azores high. In addition to that, the blocking pressure system steer the wind component of the hurricane Ophelia to be mainly meridional wind and catch this hurricane toward to the northward to landfall over Ireland.

Acknowledgements

The authors hope to thank the NOAA/ESRL Physical Sciences Division. Image provided by the NOAA/ESRL Physical Sciences Division, Boulder Colorado from their Web site at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/. Also, thanks to the national hurricane center for tropical cyclone report (AL172017) of hurricane Ophelia.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Hafez, Y., & Labban, A. (2018). The Role Played by Blocking System over North America on the Development of Hurricane Ophelia over North Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 6, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2018.612001

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