Comments on "Revisiting the Relationship between Eyewall Contraction and Intensification"

Abstract

This comment presents some concerns with the study of Stern et al. and their misinterpretation of the contraction of the radius of the maximum wind (RMW) in tropical cyclones. It is shown that their geometrical RMW contraction model provides little dynamical understanding of the RMW contraction during tropical cyclone intensification, and it differs fundamentally from the RMW contraction model of Willoughby et al. that was derived from the directional derivative concept. Moreover, it is demonstrated that Stern et al. were mistaken in commenting on the derivation of the governing equation for the RMW contraction in Kieu.