Differences in the destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific between slow- and rapid-transforming El Niño years

Shifei Tu; Jianjun Xu; Feng Xu; Mei Liang; Qianqian Ji; Siqi Chen

doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab6786

Environmental Research Letters (Jan 2020)

Differences in the destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific between slow- and rapid-transforming El Niño years

Shifei Tu,
Jianjun Xu,
Feng Xu,
Mei Liang,
Qianqian Ji,
Siqi Chen

Affiliations

Shifei Tu: ORCiD; South China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology & College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University , Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China
Jianjun Xu: South China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology & College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University , Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China
Feng Xu: South China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology & College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University , Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China
Mei Liang: South China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology & College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University , Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China
Qianqian Ji: ORCiD; South China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology & College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University , Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China
Siqi Chen: South China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology & College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University , Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab6786
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 2
p. 024014

Abstract

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The relationship between the destructive potential of tropical cyclones (TCs) over the western North Pacific (WNP) (as quantified by the Power Dissipation Index) and El Niño events is investigated in this work. Results show that the destructive potential of TCs is significantly affected by how rapidly El Niño decays from a positive phase to a negative phase. For TCs occurring during ‘slow-transforming’ El Niño, more of them initiate over the southeastern part (0°–15 °N, 150 °E–180°) of the WNP and the destructive potential of TCs is usually strong. In contrast, weaker destructiveness is indicated during ‘rapid-transforming’ periods, with fewer TC formations in the southeastern area. This weaker destructiveness during rapid-transforming El Niño years is mainly caused by anomalously cooler upper-ocean conditions in the central Pacific, negative relative vorticity anomalies, and increased vertical wind shear in the WNP. These findings may have important implications for the seasonal prediction of TC changes in the WNP.

Published in Environmental Research Letters

ISSN: 1748-9326 (Online)
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences; Science: Physics
Website: https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326

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