A SIMPLE, ANALYTIC MODEL OF THE NON-LINEAR INTENSIFICATION OF HURRICANES THROUGH CONDITIONAL INSTABILITY OF THE SECOND KIND (CISK) IS PRESENTED.THE MODEL PREDICTS THAT THE TIME REQUIRED FOR A TROPICAL CYCLONE TO REACH A SPECIFIED FRACTION OF ITS ULTIMATE INTENSITY WILL BE INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL TO THE ULTIMATE WIND SPEED IF THE CONDITIONS IN THE SEA AND ATMOSPHERE SURROUNDING THE STORM REMAIN CONSTANT IN TIME.WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE MODEL, A CHARACTERISTIC TIME REQUIRED FOR A TROPICAL CYCLONE TO TRANSFORM ITSELF FROM A WEAK TROPICAL DEPRESSION INTO A HURRICANE IS 35 HOURS.ALTHOUGH THIS TIME IS SHORTER THAN THAT OBTAINED IN MOST EARLIER STUDIES, IT AGREES WITH THE OBSERVED AVERAGE BEHAVIOUR OF SEVENTEEN STORMS FROM THE 1969, 1970, AND 1971 ATLANTIC HURRICAN SEASONS.(A) (MICROFICHE)
