INFLUENCE OF THE INTERANNUAL VARIATION OF CROSS-EQUATORIAL FLOW ON TROPICAL CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC

The influence of the interannual variation of cross-equatorial flow(CEF) on tropical cyclogenesis over the western North Pacific(WNP) is examined in this paper by using the tropical cyclone(TC) best track data from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the JRA-25 reanalysis dataset. The results showed that the number of TCs forming to the east of 140°E over the southeastern part of the western North Pacific(WNP) is in highly positive correlation with the variation of the CEF near 125° E and 150° E, i.e., the number of tropical cyclogeneses increases when the cross-equatorial flows are strong. Composite analyses showed that during the years of strong CEF, the variations of OLR, vertical wind shear between 200-850 h Pa, 850 h Pa relative vorticity and 200 h Pa divergence are favorable for tropical cyclogenesis to the east of 140°E over the tropical WNP, and vice versa. Moreover, it is also discussed from the view of barotropic energy conversion that during the years of strong CEF, an eastward-extended monsoon trough leads to the rapid growth of eddy kinetic energy over the eastern part of WNP, which is favorable for tropical cyclogenesis;but during the years of weak CEF, the monsoon trough is located westward in the western part of the WNP, consistent with the growth area of eddy kinetic energy. As a result, there are fewer TC geneses over the eastern part of WNP.Besides, the abrupt strengthening of a close-by CEF 2-4 days before tropical cyclogenesis may be the one of its triggers.     

2004年与2006年7~9月西北太平洋上空大尺度环流场与天气尺度波动的差别及其对热带气旋生成的影响

2004年和2006年是西北太平洋热带气旋(TC)活动具有明显差别的两年,2004年TC的生成位置主要位于西北太平洋的中东部上空,而2006年的TC主要生成在西北太平洋西部与中国南海.本文利用JTWC(Joint Typhoon Warning Center)热带气旋最佳路径数据、NCEP-DOE AMIP-II再分析资料和NOAA的OLR资料分析并比较了2004年与2006年7~9月西北太平洋上空大尺度环境要素场及天气尺度波动对TC生成的作用.分析结果表明:2004年7~9月与2006年7~9月西北太平洋上空季风槽的平均位置没有明显的区别,但是形态有着显著的差异.2004年季风槽的槽线不明显,在西北太平洋中部呈现一显著的气旋式环流;而2006年季风槽的槽线非常明显,槽线南北两侧呈现平直的水平气流,具有明显的水平切变特征.2004年和2006年对流层低层的相对涡度、高层辐散和垂直风切变具有明显的纬向分布差异,这是这两年TC生成的位置具有明显差异的重要原因之 一.并且,本文还分析对比了2004年以及2006年7~9月西北太平洋上空3~8 d周期的天气尺度波动的活 动,其结果表明:2004年和2006年TC的生成大多数与天气尺度波列的活动有关.2004年的天气尺度波列强度比较强,其活动的位置位于西北太平洋中、东侧上空;而2006年西北太平洋上空的天气尺度波列相对较弱,主要活动于中国南海和西北太平洋西部.纬向基本气流的切变与辐合所引起的瞬变扰动动能倾向的水平分布差异是天气尺度波动活动具有以上差异的重要原因.因此,西北太平洋大尺度环境场与天气尺度波动活动的区别共同造成了2004年7~9月的TC生成位置偏东、而2006年7~9月TC的生成位置偏西.     

Modulation of Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Genesis by Intraseasonal Oscillation of the ITCZ: A Statistical Analysis

The present study investigates modulation of western North Pacific(WNP) tropical cyclone(TC) genesis in relation to different phases of the intraseasonal oscillation(ISO) of ITCZ convection during May to October in the period 1979-2008.The phases of the ITCZ ISO were determined based on 30-80-day filtered OLR anomalies averaged over the region(5-20 N,120-150 E).The number of TCs during the active phases was nearly three times more than during the inactive phases.The active(inactive) phases of ISO were characterized by low-level cyclonic(anticyclonic) circulation anomalies,higher(lower) midlevel relative humidity anomalies,and larger(smaller) vertical gradient anomalies of relative vorticity associated with enhanced(weakened) ITCZ convection anomalies.During the active phases,TCs tended to form in the center of the ITCZ region.Barotropic conversion from the low-level mean flow is suggested to be the major energy source for TC formation.The energy conversion mainly depended on the zonal and meridional gradients of the zonal flow during the active phases.However,barotropic conversion weakened greatly during the inactive phases.The relationship between the meridional gradient of absolute vorticity and low-level zonal flow indicates that the sign of the absolute vorticity gradient tends to be reversed during the two phases,whereas the same sign between zonal flow and the absolute vorticity gradient is more easily satisfied in the active phases.Thus,the barotropic instability of low-level zonal flow might be an important mechanism for TC formation over the WNP during the active phases of ISO.     

热带季节内振荡与影响广西的热带气旋生成发展的联系

利用1978-2013年美国NOAA逐候MJO指数和中国气象局上海台风研究所热带气旋资料,研究了MJO与影响广西热带气旋发生发展的联系。结果表明,当MJO处于非洲大陆和西印度洋时,热带气旋生成区域上空为异常东风带;而当MJO处于西太平洋时,热带气旋生成区域北侧为东风异常带、南侧为西风异常带,有利于季风槽或气旋性环流加强,导致影响广西热带气旋频数偏多。当MJO处于东印度洋时,南海上空风场存在明显的向南分量,热带气旋生成数少、位置偏南;而当MJO处于东太平洋时,热带西太平洋对流受到抑制,导致影响广西热带气旋偏少。     

Re-examination of tropical cyclone formation in monsoon troughs over the western North Pacific

The monsoon trough(MT) is one of the large-scale patterns favorable for tropical cyclone(TC) formation over the western North Pacific(WNP). This study re-examines TC formation by treating the MT as a large-scale background for TC activity during May–October. Over an 11-year(2000–10) period, 8.3 TC formation events on average per year are identified to occur within MTs, accounting for 43.1% of the total TC formation events in the WNP basin. This percentage is much lower than those reported in previous studies. Further analysis indicates that TC formation events in monsoon gyres were included at least in some previous studies. The MT includes a monsoon confluence zone where westerlies meet easterlies and a monsoon shear line where the trade easterlies lie north of the monsoon westerlies. In this study, the large-scale flow pattern associated with TC formation in the MT is composited based on the reference point in the confluence zone where both the zonal and meridional wind components are zero with positive vorticity. While previous studies have found that many TCs form in the confluence zone, the composite analysis indicates that nearly all of the TCs formed in the shear region, since the shear region is associated with stronger low-level relative vorticity than the confluence zone. The prevailing easterly vertical shear of zonal wind and barotropic instability may also be conducive to TC formation in the shear region, through the development of synoptic-scale tropical disturbances in the MT that are necessary for TC formation.     

气候平均场上西太平洋副热带高压双脊线过程可能成因的动力诊断分析

利用NCEP-DOE再分析数据集II,诊断分析了气候平均场上6次西太平洋副热带高压双脊线过程,借助一个两层半大气模式,从动力学上初步揭示了西太平洋热带大气准10天振荡（Quasi Ten-day Oscillation,简称QTO）向西北方向传播与季风槽东伸西撤之间的相互作用过程,探讨了气候平均场上西太副高双脊线可能的形成机制。分析表明季风槽准10天东西振荡是气候平均场上西太副高双脊线形成的主要原因,而季风槽东伸西撤与QTO传播密切相关。进一步分析发现,QTO向西北方向传播,东风切变作用于斜压辐散的经向梯度,在对流中心北侧生成正扰动涡度。QTO在季风槽东侧激发的气旋性扰动涡度,诱导季风槽东伸,侵入副高,造成副高外围变形,形成双脊线。因此,形成西太副高双脊线的主要原因之一可能是西太平洋热带大气QTO。尽管季风槽东伸直接引起副高双脊线发生,但是它只不过是受QTO影响的一种表现。本文仅为诊断结果,其结果还有待于模式敏感性试验的验证。     

Influence of monsoon over the warm pool on interannual variation on tropical cyclone activity over the western North Pacific

The relationship between the interannual variation in tropical cyclone （TC） activity over the western North Pacific （WNP） and the thermal state over the warm pool （WP） is examined in this paper. The results show that the subsurface temperature in the WP is well correlated with TC geographical distribution and track type. Their relation is linked by the East Asian monsoon trough. During the warm years, the westward-retreating monsoon trough creates convergence and vorticity fields that are favorable for tropical cyclogenesis in the northwest of the WNP, whereas more TCs concentrating in the southeast result from eastward penetration of the monsoon trough during the cold years. The steering flows at 500 hPa lead to a westward displacement track in the warm years and recurving prevailing track in the cold years.
The two types of distinct processes in the monsoon environment triggering tropical cyclogenesis are hypothesized by composites centered for TC genesis location corresponding to two kinds of thermal states of the WP. During the warm years, low-frequency intraseasonal oscillation is active in the west of the WNP such that eastward-propagating westerlies cluster TC genesis in that region. In contrast, during the cold years, the increased cyclogenesis in the southeast of the WNP is mainly associated with tropical depression type disturbances transiting from equatorially trapped mixed Rossby gravity waves. Both of the processes may be fundamental mechanisms for the inherent interannual variation in TC activity over the WNP.     

近年来关于西北太平洋热带气旋和台风活动的气候学研究进展

本文主要综述和回顾了近年来季风系统研究中心关于西北太平洋热带气旋和台风(TCs)活动的气候学研究进展及有关的国内外研究.文中不仅回顾了最近关于夏、秋季西北太平洋利于TCs生成的大尺度环流型及其与涡旋的正压能量交换、西北太平洋TCs活动的年际和年代际及季节内的变化特征、以及今后全球变暖背景下西北太平洋TCs活动的变化趋势的气候学研究进展,而且综述了西北太平洋季风槽及热带对流耦合波动对西北太平洋上TCs生成的动力作用的研究.此外,文中还指出今后有关西北太平洋TCs活动一些亟需进一步研究的气候学问题.     

季风槽中热带气旋生成初期扰动的扰动动能收支分析

热带气旋总是发生在天气尺度扰动中,本文利用NCEP/NCAR提供的FNL资料,选取了2004年8月11日—9月10日期间季风槽中5个热带气旋生成初期扰动,通过计算动能收支分析这些初期扰动的发展。其中4个热带气旋都是生成在向西北方向传播的天气尺度波列的气旋性环流中,气旋性环流可以和呈东北—西南方向倾斜西传的MRG波的逆时针环流耦合。动能收支计算表明,初期扰动动能在热带气旋生成前12~72 h不断增加,扰动位势通量的辐合对扰动动能增长起了主要作用。在季风槽东端的合流区时,能量聚集项有重要作用,随着扰动移入季风槽内,低频纬向风切变项成为能量增加的一个重要来源。Sarika生成于季风槽西撤阶段,非线性作用项对扰动发展起了关键作用。     

西北太平洋低频振荡对热带气旋生成的动力作用及其物理机制

利用全球再分析资料以及美国联合台风预报中心的热带气旋(TC)数据, 从动力和能量转换方面深入分析了西北太平洋上空30～60天大气低频振荡(MJO)对西北太平洋区域TC生成的调制作用。研究结果表明, 当西北太平洋西侧为MJO的西风位相所控制时, MJO通过纬向风的辐合作用使得在辐合区传播的波动发生波数增加, 波长减短的结构改变, 从而触发较大尺度波动向天气尺度波动的演变; 西风位相期间纬向风的纬向辐合与经向切变可以使得低频波动动能向高频波动的转换得到加强, 从而使得在此区域TC生成的数量明显偏多。相反, 当西北太平洋西侧为MJO的东风位相时, TC生成的数量得到抑制。此外, 随着西风位相中西风的加强(东风位相中东风的加强), TC的生成概率将得到增加 (减少)。但是, 在西北太平洋东侧海域, MJO对TC活动的调制作用要减弱许多。对MJO活动年际变化的研究表明, 在西太暖池处于暖状态年时, 西北太平洋西侧的MJO活动频繁, 西风位相活跃, 从而有利于此区域TC的生成, 而冷年的情况正好相反。     

Circulation Features Associated with the Record-breaking Typhoon Silence in August 2014

Climatologically, August is the month with the most tropical cyclone(TC) formation over the western North Pacific(WNP) during the typhoon season. In this study, the reason for abnormal TC activity during August is discussed—especially August 2014, when no TCs formed. The large-scale background of August 2014 is presented, with low-level large-scale easterly anomalies and anticyclonic anomalies dominating over the main TC genesis region, a weak monsoon trough system,and a strong WNP subtropical high(WPSH), leading to significantly reduced low-level convergence, upper-level divergence,and mid-level upward motion. These unfavorable large-scale conditions suppressed convection and cyclogenesis. In August2014, equatorial waves were inactive within the negative phase of the Madden–Julian Oscillation(MJO), with fewer tropical disturbances. Although the low-level vorticity and convection of those disturbances were partly promoted by the convective envelopes of equatorial waves, the integral evolution of disturbances, as well as the equatorial waves, were suppressed when propagating into the negative MJO phase. Moreover, the upper-level potential vorticity(PV) streamers associated with anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking events imported extratropical cold and dry air into the tropics. The peripheral tropospheric dryness and enhanced vertical wind shear by PV streamer intrusion combined with the negative MJO phase were responsible for the absence of TC formation over the WNP in August 2014.     

A comparison of regional monsoon variability using monsoon indices

The present study aims to (a) examine meteorological basis for construction of regional monsoon indices and (b) explore the commonality and differences among tropical regional monsoons, especially the teleconnection and monsoon–ENSO relationship. We show that the area-averaged summer precipitation intensity is generally a meaningful precipitation index for tropical monsoons because it represents very well both the amplitude of annual cycle and the leading mode of year-to-year rainfall variability with a nearly uniform spatial pattern. The regional monsoon circulation indices can be defined in a unified way (measuring monsoon trough vorticity) for seven tropical monsoon regions, viz.: Indian, Australian, western North Pacific, North and South American, and Northern and Southern African monsoons. The structures of the tropical monsoons are commonly characterized by a pair of upper-level double anticyclones residing in the subtropics of both hemispheres; notably the winter hemispheric anticyclone has a barotropic structure and is a passive response. Two types of upper-level teleconnection patterns are identified. One is a zonal wave train emanating from the double anticyclones downstream along the westerly jets in both hemispheres, including Indian, Northern African and Australian monsoons; the other is a meridional wave train emanating from the double anticyclones polewards, such as the South American and western North Pacific monsoons. Over the past 55 years all regional summer monsoons have non-stationary relationship with ENSO except the Australian monsoon. The regional monsoon–ENSO relationship is found to have common changing points in 1970s. The relationships were enhanced for the western North Pacific, Northern African, North American and South American summer monsoons, but weakened for the Indian summer monsoon (with a recovery in late 1990s). Regardless the large regional differences, the monsoon precipitations over land areas of all tropical monsoon regions are significantly correlated with the ENSO, suggesting that ENSO drives global tropical monsoon rainfall variability. These results provide useful guidance for monitoring sub-seasonal to seasonal variations of the regional monsoons currently done at NCEP and for assessment of the climate models’ performances in representing regional and global monsoon variability.     

澳大利亚冷空气活动对西北太平洋热带气旋生成的影响

利用1980—2012年NCEP/NCAR再分析资料及中国气象局的最佳台风路径资料,研究澳大利亚冷空气活动对西北太平洋热带气旋生成的影响。研究发现,北半球夏季925 h Pa经向风超过6 m/s的频数在澳大利亚东北部海域最高,达40 d/a。为此,确定澳大利亚冷空气侵入南北半球低纬的关键区为澳大利亚东北部所罗门海地区,并用该区域经向风风速定义了一个澳大利亚冷空气活动强度指数。该指数与越赤道气流及赤道西风都有很好的相关关系,还与同期的SOI(Southern Oscillation Index,南方涛动指数)显著相关。当SOI偏低(高)时,关键区经向风风速偏强(弱)。合成分析和相关分析结果表明,澳大利亚冷空气活动强、弱年西北太平洋热带气旋生成的位置的变化与季风槽的变化一致,西北太平洋热带气旋生成总数则无显著差异。澳大利亚冷空气活动强年季风槽偏强偏东,热带气旋生成位置偏东偏南;而弱年季风槽偏弱偏西,热带气旋生成位置偏西偏北。低层涡度场、水汽输送、风垂直切变以及低纬地区对流活动的分布表明,澳大利亚冷空气活动强年有利于热带气旋生成位置偏东、偏南;弱年偏西、偏北。     

The Initial Mesoscale Vortexes Leading to the Formation of Tropical Cyclones in the Western North Pacific

A statistical analysis of the initial vortexes leading to tropical cyclone(TC) formation in the western North Pacific(WNP) is conducted with the ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis data from 1999 to 2018. It is found that TCs in the WNP basically originate from three kinds of vortexes, i.e., a mid-level vortex(MV), a low-level vortex(LV), and a relatively deep vortex with notable vorticity in both the lower and middle troposphere(DV). Among them, LV and DV account for 47.9% and24.2% of tropical cyclogenesis e...     

Interannual Variation of Multiple Tropical Cyclone Events in the Western North Pacific

The interannual variability of occurrence of multiple tropical cyclone(MTC) events during June-October in the western North Pacific(WNP) was examined for the period 1979-2006.The number of the MTC events ranged from 2 to 9 per year,exhibiting a remarkable year-to-year variation.Seven active and seven inactive MTC years were identified.Compared to the inactive years,tropical cyclone genesis locations extended farther to the east and in the meridional direction during the active MTC years.A composite analysis shows that inactive MTC years were often associated with the El Nin o decaying phase,as warm SST anomalies in the equatorial eastern-central Pacific in the preceding winter transitioned into cold sea surface temperature(SST) anomalies in the concurrent summer.Associated with the SST evolution were suppressed low-level cyclonic vorticity and weakened convection in the WNP monsoon region.In addition to the mean flow difference,significant differences between active and inactive MTC years were also found in the strength of the atmospheric intraseasonal oscillation(ISO).Compared with inactive MTC years,ISO activity was much stronger along the equator and in the WNP region during active MTC years.Both westward-and northward-propagating ISO spectrums strengthened during active MTC years compared to inactive years.The combined mean state and ISO activity changes may set up a favorable environment for the generation of MTC events.     

赤道波动转换在西北太平洋热带气旋生成中的作用

This study associates tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the western North Pacific (WNP) with the equatorial wave transition from an interannual viewpoint, revealing that the tropical cyclogenesis mean location may be modulated by a longitudinal shift in the transition of Mixed Rossby-gravity (MRG) waves to off-equatorial tropical depression (TD) disturbances from year to year. To a large extent, the wave transition is attributable to the monsoon trough in response to the thermal state of the warm pool (WP) over the WNP. During the cold state years in the WP, the basic flow confluence region associated with the monsoon trough penetrates eastward, leading to an eastward shift in the location of the wave transition. Such an environment, in which wave accumulation and energy conversion occur, is favorable for tropical cyclogenesis; as a result, the averaged cyclogenesis location moves eastward. The condition is reserved during the warm years in the WP, resulting in the prominent westward-retreating mean TC formation. Citation: Chen, G. H., and R. H. Huang, 2008: Role of equatorial wave transitions in tropical cyclogenesis over the western north Pacific, Atmos. Oceanic Sci. Lett., 1, 64-68     

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE PRECEDING WINTER MJO ACTIVITIES AND THE SUMMER PRECIPITATION IN YANGTZE-HUAIHE RIVER BASIN OF CHINA

The first two series(RMM1 and RMM2) of RMM Index(all-Season Real-time Multivariate MJO Index) are computed to obtain the interannual variation of the preceding winter(preceding December to current February) MJO strength,according to which active(or inactive) years of preceding winter MJO are divided.By utilizing the data provided by NCEP/NCAR,CMAP and China’s 160 stations from 1979 to 2008,we studied the preceding winter MJO strength and discovered that the summer precipitation in the basin are of significantly negative correlation,i.e.when the preceding winter MJO is relatively active,the summer precipitation in the basin decreases,and vise verse.We also analyzed the causes.When the preceding winter MJO is relatively active,its release of potential heat facilities Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ) to strengthen and locate northward in winter and propagate northeastward.This abnormal situation lasts from winter to summer.In mid-May,ITCZ jumps northward to the South China Sea,the western Pacific subtropical high withdraws eastward,and the South China Sea summer monsoon sets off and strengthens.In summer,ITCZ propagates to South China Sea-subtropical western Pacific,the zonal circulation of subtropical Pacific strengthens,and a local meridional circulation of the South China Sea to the basin area forms,giving rise to the East Asia Pacific teleconnection wave-train.An East Asian monsoon trough and the Meiyu front show opposite features from south to north,the East Asian summer monsoon strengthens and advances northward.As a result,the summer monsoon is weakened as the basin is controlled by the subtropical high continually,with less rain in summer.On the contrary,when the preceding winter MJO is inactive,ITCZ weakens and is located southward,the subtropical high is located southward in summer,and the basin is in a region of ascending airflow with prevailing southwest wind.The East Asian monsoon trough and EASM weaken so that summer monsoon is reduced in the basin where precipitation increases.     

亚洲夏季风爆发前后西北太平洋和孟加拉湾热带气旋活动统计特征

亚洲夏季风爆发始于孟加拉湾,然后向中国南海和印度次大陆扩展,其过程约持续1个月。各地区夏季风爆发时间呈明显的年际变化。利用热带气旋资料和气象再分析资料,统计了1951-2010年孟加拉湾和中国南海夏季风爆发前后西北太平洋热带气旋、孟加拉湾气旋风暴活动和夏季风爆发的关系。结果表明,在孟加拉湾夏季风爆发过程中,共有36 a出现孟加拉湾气旋风暴,并且夏季风爆发偏早年出现风暴的几率最高,为80%。在孟加拉湾夏季风爆发偏早、正常和偏晚3种类型中,孟加拉湾风暴活动频率高峰期多出现在夏季风爆发前后几天内。并且在孟加拉湾风暴活动频率高峰出现前期,西北太平洋热带气旋最先出现活动频率高峰。孟加拉湾夏季风爆发前有40%-50%的年份西北太平洋出现热带气旋活动,其中,夏季风爆发偏早年,爆发前西北太平洋热带气旋活跃的时间偏早（4月第2候）,且多活动在中国南海和菲律宾附近;爆发正常年,西北太平洋热带气旋活跃的时间为4月第4候,多活动在略偏东的海域;爆发偏晚年,西北太平洋热带气旋活跃的时间为5月初,活动区域最偏东。中国南海夏季风爆发过程中,60 a中共有29 a西北太平出现热带气旋,其中爆发偏早和正常年出现热带气旋的频率较高,并且热带气旋多出现在爆发当日和爆发后一段时间。整体来看,亚洲夏季风爆发前,西北太平洋热带气旋活动频率最先开始增强,然后孟加拉湾风暴开始活跃并伴随着孟加拉湾夏季风爆发,夏季风爆发偏早和正常年,孟加拉湾夏季风爆发后,西北太平洋热带气旋再次增强,中国南海夏季风爆发。      

RESEARCH ON THE INTERANNUAL AND INTERDECADAL VARIABILITIES OF THE MONSOON TROUGH AND THEIR IMPACTS ON TROPICAL CYCLONE GENESIS OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

In this paper, we mainly summarize and review the progresses in recent climatological studies (by CMSR, IAP/CAS and some associated domestic and international institutions) on the interannual and interdecadal variabilities of monsoon troughs and their impacts on tropical cyclones and typhoons (TCs) geneses over the western North Pacific Ocean. The climatological characteristics of monsoon troughs and four types of circulation patterns favorable to TCs genesis over the western North Pacific Ocean in summer and autumn are given in this paper. It is also shown in this paper that the monsoon trough over the western North Pacific Ocean has obvious interannual and interdecadal variabilities. Especially, it is revealed in this paper that the interannual and interdecadal variabilities of the monsoon trough over the western North Pacific Ocean influence the TCs genesis not only through the impact on distributions of the vorticity in the lower troposphere and the divergence in the upper troposphere, the water vapor in the mid- and lower troposphere and the vertical shear of wind fields between the upper and lower troposphere over the western North Pacific Ocean, but also through the dynamical effects of the transition between convectively coupled tropical waves and providing disturbance energy. Besides, some climatological problems associated with TCs activity over the western North Pacific Ocean that need to be studied further are also pointed out in this paper.     

Barotropic Process Contributing to the Formation and Growth of Tropical Cyclone Nargis

This study reveals the barotropic dynamics associated with the formation and growth of tropical cyclone Nargis in 2008,during its formation stage.Strong equatorial westerlies occurred over the southern Bay of Bengal in association with the arrival of an intraseasonal westerly event during the period 22-24 April 2008. The westerlies,together with strong tropical-subtropical easterlies,constituted a large-scale horizontal shear flow,creating cyclonic vorticity and thereby promoting the incipient disturbance that eventually evolved into Nargis.This basic zonal flow in the lower troposphere was barotropically unstable,with the amplified disturbance gaining more kinetic energy from the easterly jet than from the westerly jet during 25-26 April. This finding suggests that more attention should be paid to the unstable easterly jet when monitoring and predicting the development of tropical cyclones.Energetics analyses reveal that barotropic energy conversion by the meridional gradient of the basic zonal flow was indeed an important energy source for the growth of Nargis.