Vortcanes?

[MBryant]

Is the blurb about Steve Lyons and Vortcanes simply an attempt to reintroduce the old Neutercane concept?

[MBryant]

I don't know if the lack of response to my question is from distraction in the tropics or from a poorly phrased question.

Any information about either of these "types" of systems, their similarities or differences would be appreciated.

[BigA]

I'm no expert, but from what I looked up, neutercanes were a term used in the past for subtropical systems, as well as tropical systems with less than tropical features (Think hurrcane Earl in 1998) Vortcanes are a term that Dr. Steve Lyons has begun to use for small hurricanes that rapidly intensify (think Humberto and Lorenzo this year).

I hope this was of help.

[MBryant]

If my memory is correct, the original identification of a storm as a neutercane was an attempt to separate storms with a very small wind field (<50 miles radii) and greater intensity from more typical tropical systems. I think I remember it being described as something between a hurricane and a tornado.

Unfortunately, the neutercane identification went away very quickly and before I could get more information on it. This was before the internet was public.

[MBryant]

This is the best information I can find on the net regarding Neutercanes:

"Mesoscale low

A second type of subtropical cyclone is a mesoscale low originating in or near a frontolyzing zone of horizontal wind shear, also known as a dying frontal zone, with radius of maximum sustained winds generally less 30 miles/50 kilometres. The entire circulation may initially have a diameter of less than 100 miles/160 kilometres. These generally short-lived systems may be either cold core or warm core, and briefly in 1972 this type of subtropical cyclone was referred to as a "neutercane". As of 2006, the warm core variety were moved under the umbrella of the tropical cyclone definition, and removed from the subtropical cyclone definition. [5]"

Now I just need more precise information about Vortcanes.