Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North Pacific
A decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones (TCs) that reached their lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) in the South China Sea (SCS; 5°N-25°N, 107°E-121°E) from 1978 to 2020 was identified. TCs that generated and reached LMI in the SCS were named “local TCs,” while those that generated i...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.980220/full |
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| author | Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Jianjun Xu Jianjun Xu Jianjun Xu Mei Liang Mei Liang Mei Liang Mei Liang |
| author_facet | Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Jianjun Xu Jianjun Xu Jianjun Xu Mei Liang Mei Liang Mei Liang Mei Liang |
| author_sort | Peilan Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones (TCs) that reached their lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) in the South China Sea (SCS; 5°N-25°N, 107°E-121°E) from 1978 to 2020 was identified. TCs that generated and reached LMI in the SCS were named “local TCs,” while those that generated in the western North Pacific (WNP) and reached LMI in the SCS were named “migratory TCs.” A seesaw phenomenon in the frequencies of these two types of TCs was found before and after 1997. From 1978 to 1996, TC frequency was generally lower in local TCs but higher in migratory TCs. The opposite was true from 1997 to 2020. The main factors responsible for this “seesaw” phenomenon include changes in the genesis positions of TCs and the interdecadal variation of large-scale environmental flow patterns. From 1997 to 2020, during which the large-scale steering flow was favorable for local TCs, the monsoon trough over the WNP withdrew westward along with the warm pool and the subtropical high strengthened westward. Meanwhile, the sea surface temperature (SST) gradient between the equator and mid-latitudes decreased and the north wind weakened near 120°E. Easterly winds were strengthened in the equatorial region, which led to an abnormal anticyclone and the divergence of water vapor in the WNP. In contrast, the SST of the SCS, an internal sea, increased significantly. Under local atmosphere-ocean interaction, abnormal cyclonic circulation appeared in the SCS, which led to intensified convergence and intensified wet convection. Changes in the environmental fields in the WNP and SCS are the main reasons for the seesaw phenomenon observed in these two types of TCs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:41:47Z |
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| id | doaj.art-26a16075259a4b9e8c3e226b4607e140 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:41:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-26a16075259a4b9e8c3e226b4607e1402022-12-22T04:31:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632022-08-011010.3389/feart.2022.980220980220Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North PacificPeilan Huang0Peilan Huang1Peilan Huang2Peilan Huang3Jianjun Xu4Jianjun Xu5Jianjun Xu6Mei Liang7Mei Liang8Mei Liang9Mei Liang10South China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaCollege of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaCMA-GDOU Joint Laboratory for Marine Meteorology, Zhanjiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Climate, Resources and Environment in Continental Shelf and Deep Sea of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaSouth China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaShenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, ChinaKey Laboratory of Climate, Resources and Environment in Continental Shelf and Deep Sea of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaSouth China Sea Institute of Marine Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaCollege of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaCMA-GDOU Joint Laboratory for Marine Meteorology, Zhanjiang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Climate, Resources and Environment in Continental Shelf and Deep Sea of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, ChinaA decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones (TCs) that reached their lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) in the South China Sea (SCS; 5°N-25°N, 107°E-121°E) from 1978 to 2020 was identified. TCs that generated and reached LMI in the SCS were named “local TCs,” while those that generated in the western North Pacific (WNP) and reached LMI in the SCS were named “migratory TCs.” A seesaw phenomenon in the frequencies of these two types of TCs was found before and after 1997. From 1978 to 1996, TC frequency was generally lower in local TCs but higher in migratory TCs. The opposite was true from 1997 to 2020. The main factors responsible for this “seesaw” phenomenon include changes in the genesis positions of TCs and the interdecadal variation of large-scale environmental flow patterns. From 1997 to 2020, during which the large-scale steering flow was favorable for local TCs, the monsoon trough over the WNP withdrew westward along with the warm pool and the subtropical high strengthened westward. Meanwhile, the sea surface temperature (SST) gradient between the equator and mid-latitudes decreased and the north wind weakened near 120°E. Easterly winds were strengthened in the equatorial region, which led to an abnormal anticyclone and the divergence of water vapor in the WNP. In contrast, the SST of the SCS, an internal sea, increased significantly. Under local atmosphere-ocean interaction, abnormal cyclonic circulation appeared in the SCS, which led to intensified convergence and intensified wet convection. Changes in the environmental fields in the WNP and SCS are the main reasons for the seesaw phenomenon observed in these two types of TCs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.980220/fulltropical cycloneslifetime maximum intensityinterdecadal variationseesawSouth China Sea |
| spellingShingle | Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Peilan Huang Jianjun Xu Jianjun Xu Jianjun Xu Mei Liang Mei Liang Mei Liang Mei Liang Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North Pacific Frontiers in Earth Science tropical cyclones lifetime maximum intensity interdecadal variation seesaw South China Sea |
| title | Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North Pacific |
| title_full | Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North Pacific |
| title_fullStr | Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North Pacific |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North Pacific |
| title_short | Decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the South China Sea and migrating from the western North Pacific |
| title_sort | decadal variation in the frequency of tropical cyclones originating in the south china sea and migrating from the western north pacific |
| topic | tropical cyclones lifetime maximum intensity interdecadal variation seesaw South China Sea |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.980220/full |
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