A statistical link between tropical cyclone intensification and major geomagnetic disturbances

Abstract

A statistically significant relationship is found between geomagnetic activity and tropical cyclone intensification over the tropical Atlantic where major hurricanes form. The result is consistent with an earlier study in showing a connection between geomagnetic activity and tropical cyclone intensity. It expands on this earlier work by focusing on intensification rather than intensity and by examining hourly data. Results appear to be more general in that there is no need to separate the tropical cyclones by type.

Keywords

• Tropical cyclones
• intensification
• geomagnetic disturbances
• Forbush events.