The Fujiwhara effect or Fujiwhara interaction is a type of interaction between two nearby cyclonicvortices. When the vortices approach each other, their centers will begin orbiting cyclonically about a point between the two systems. The two vortices will be attracted to each other, and eventually spiral into the center point and merge. When the two vortices are of unequal size, the larger vortex will tend to dominate the interaction, and the smaller vortex will orbit around it. In meteorology, a cyclone is the rotation of a volume of air about an area of low atmospheric pressure. ... Vortex created by the passage of an aircraft wing, revealed by coloured smoke A vortex is a spinning turbulent flow (or any spiral whirling motion) with closed streamlines. ...
The effect is named after Dr. Sakuhei Fujiwhara, the future chief of the Central Meteorological Bureau in Tokyo, who initially described it in a 1921 paper about the motion of vortices in water. The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ...
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 pronounced in these storms when they approach within about 1450 km (900 miles) of each other, and are at tropical storm strength or stronger. Hurricane Ivan viewed from the International Space Station, September 2004. ...
A few sets of examples can be found in the busy 1995 Atlantic hurricane season. During the height of the season, Hurricane Humberto and Hurricane Iris took part in a brief Fujiwhara interaction. Iris then began interacting with a third storm, Tropical Storm Karen, which orbited and later merged with the more intense Iris. That same year in the Pacific, Typhoon Pat and Typhoon Ruth completed a full orbit around their centroid before collapsing into a single cyclone. The 1995 Atlantic Hurricane season was the second most active season on record, and the most active in sixty-two years. ...
Sources
USA Today - "Fujiwhara effect describes a stormy waltz"
The Fujiwharaeffect or Fujiwhara interaction is a type of interaction between two nearby cyclonicvortices, causing them to appear to "orbit" each other.
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 is named after Dr. Sakuhei Fujiwhara, the future chief of the Central Meteorological Bureau in Tokyo, Japan, who initially described it in a 1921 paper about the motion of vortices in water.
Official information issued by tropical cyclone warning centers describing all tropical cyclone watches and warnings in effect along with details concerning tropical cyclone locations, intensity and movement, and precautions that should be taken.
A warning that sustained winds 64 knot (119 km/h or 74 mph) or higher associated with a hurricane are expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less.
A hurricane warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.