Influence of future tropical cyclone track changes on their basin-wide intensity over the western North Pacific: Downscaled CMIP5 projections

The possible changes of tropical cyclone(TC) tracks and their influence on the future basin-wide intensity of TCs over the western North Pacific(WNP) are examined based on the projected large-scale environments derived from a selection of CMIP5(Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5) models. Specific attention is paid to the performance of the CMIP5 climate models in simulating the large-scale environment for TC development over the WNP. A downscaling system including individual models for simulating the TC track and intensity is used to select the CMIP5 models and to simulate the TC activity in the future.The assessment of the future track and intensity changes of TCs is based on the projected large-scale environment in the21 st century from a selection of nine CMIP5 climate models under the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5(RCP4.5)scenario. Due to changes in mean steering flows, the influence of TCs over the South China Sea area is projected to decrease,with an increasing number of TCs taking a northwestward track. Changes in prevailing tracks and their contribution to basin-wide intensity change show considerable inter-model variability. The influences of changes in prevailing track make a marked contribution to TC intensity change in some models, tending to counteract the effect of SST warming. This study suggests that attention should be paid to the simulated large-scale environment when assessing the future changes in regional TC activity based on climate models. In addition, the change in prevailing tracks should be considered when assessing future TC intensity change.     

Assessing the Influence of the ENSO on Tropical Cyclone Prevailing Tracks in the Western North Pacific

Using a statistical model for simulating tropical cyclone (TC) formation and a trajectory model for simulating TC tracks, the influence of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the peak-season (July-September) TC prevailing tracks in the western North Pacific basin is assessed based on 14 selected El Nino and 14 selected La Nina years during the period 1950-2007. It is found that the combination of statistical formation model and a trajectory model can simulate well the primary features of TC prevai...     

Impact of Interannual Variation of Synoptic Disturbances on the Tracks and Landfalls of Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific

This study investigates the tropical cyclone (TC) activity associated with the two leading modes of interannual variability in synoptic disturbances. Both leading modes are found to be related to a dipole pattern of TC occurrence between the subtropical western North Pacific and the South China Sea. Therefore, in this study we performed composite analyses on TC tracks and landfalls, based on the cases of combined modes, to highlight the differences. The composite results indicate that these cases are characterized by distinct features of TC tracks and landfalls: more TCs tend to take recurving tracks and attack eastern China, Korea and Japan, or more TCs exhibit straight-moving tracks and hit the Philippines, Vietnam and southern China. Further analyses suggest that these distinctions in the TC prevailing tracks and landfalls can be attributed to the differences in large-scale steering flow and TC genesis location.     

区域气候模拟系统对西北太平洋热带气旋活动的模拟分析

利用ERA-Interim再分析数据提供侧边界条件,驱动Hadley气候预测与研究中心研发的PRECIS区域气候模拟系统,检验PRECIS对1996-2005年西北太平洋热带气旋活动的模拟能力.经与实况资料的对比结果表明:PRECIS能够有效模拟影响热带气旋活动的热力与动力环境场以及西北太平洋热带气旋生成与路径的分布特征;模拟的热带气旋逐年生成频数与实况相比,相关性显著,生成频数空间分布的高值区与实况对应一致;模拟的路径频数分布与实况相比总体一致.但模拟的中国南海海域生成的热带气旋与实况相比偏多,路径频数集中在南海东北部;模拟热带气旋的北移路径偏少,强度偏弱.     

西北太平洋热带气旋在ENSO发展和衰减年的路径变化

本文运用有限混合模型算法对1979~2015年夏、秋季（6~11月）中国气象局（CMA）上海台风研究所（STI）的最佳路径数据集热带气旋（TC）路径进行聚类,将其路径分为七类,分别为第一类（西太西移型）、第二类（南海西移型）、第三类（沿海转折型）、第四类（低纬转折型）、第五类（洋面转折型）、第六类（近海转折型）、第七类（日本海转折型）;并利用S-EOF（季节EOF,Seasonal Empirical Orthogonal Function）方法确定ENSO四个位相（El Ni?o发展年、El Ni?o衰减年、La Ni?a发展年、La Ni?a衰减年）,分析在不同ENSO位相下TC路径的年际变化以及相应的流场,得到一些有意义的结论:El Ni?o发展年,TC在西北太平洋东南海域活动频繁,以第六类（近海转折型）路径为主;El Ni?o衰减年以第二类（南海西移型）路径居多,第七类（日本海转折型）路径也较为活跃;La Ni?a发展年,TC集中在西北象限海域,以第七类（日本海转折型）路径为主;La Ni?a衰减年,TC源地多位于我国沿海地区与台湾岛附近洋面上,以第三类（沿海转折型）路径为主。     

A METHOD OF RAPID CLASSIFICATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONE TRACKS OVER CHINA AND ITS APPLICATION

Using data of tropical cyclones making landfall in China between May and October each year during the 1951-2015 period from the Shanghai Typhoon Institute, China Meteorological Administration (CMA-STI) Tropical Cyclone (TC) Best Track Dataset, we developed a method of rapid classification of TC tracks based on their average movement velocities and noted three types of tracks: a westward type, a northwestward type, and a northward type. We compared the climate characteristics of the westward and northward types and discuss their corresponding causes. The results show that the westward and northward types account for more than 80% of all TCs making landfall in China. Their climate characteristics, such as the frequency, landfall intensity, duration over land, velocity over land, movement distance over land, and other changes, show both similarities and differences. Both TC types show significant increases in their over-land durations, indicating that the effects of these landfalling TCs are increasing. However, the causes of these two TC types are similar and different in certain respects. The changes in large-scale steering flows have significantly affected the frequencies and over-land velocities of the landfalling TCs of the westward and northward types. In addition, differences between the changes in formation locations of the westward and northward types may lead to significant difference in their landfall intensities.     

Seasonal modulations of different impacts of two types of ENSO events on tropical cyclone activity in the western North Pacific

The paper examines different impacts of eastern Pacific warm/cold (EPW/EPC) and central Pacific warm/cold (CPW/CPC) events on tropical cyclones (TCs) in the western North Pacific (WNP) by considering the early season of April–June (AMJ), the peak season of July–September (JAS) and the late season of October–December (OND). During AMJ, EPW (EPC) is associated with a significant increase of the TC genesis number in the southeastern (southwestern) sub-region of the WNP, but no class of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events shows a significant change in the TC lifetime and intensity. During JAS, EPW corresponds to an increase (decrease) of the TC genesis number in the southeastern (northwestern) sub-region, but CPW shows no significant change. EPC increases the TC genesis in the northwestern and northeastern sub-regions and decreases the genesis in the southwestern sub-region, whereas CPC suppresses the genesis in the southeastern sub-region. Both the lifetime and intensity of TCs are increased in EPW, but only a shortened lifetime is seen for CPC. During OND, EPW reduces the TC genesis in the southwestern and northwestern sub-regions, whereas CPW enhances the genesis in the southeastern sub-region. Over the South China Sea, CPW and CPC show a significant decrease and increase of the TC genesis, respectively. The TC lifetime is significantly longer in both EPW and CPW and shorter in EPC, and TCs tend to be more (less) intense in EPW (CPC). All of these variations are consistent with the development of ENSO-related SST anomalies during different seasons and are supported by distributions of the genesis potential index—a combination of large-scale oceanic and atmospheric factors that affect TC activity. TCs in the WNP mainly take the straight westward, northwestward and recurving tracks. During AMJ of EPW years, the TC steering flow patterns favor the recurving track and suppress the straight westward and northwestward tracks. During JAS, EPW is associated with the steering flows that are unfavorable for TCs to move northwestward or westward, whereas CPW favors the northwestward track and suppresses the straight westward track. The steering flow patterns during OND are similar to those during JAS, except that EPC may increase the possibility of the northwestward track.     

西北太平洋季风槽的季节和年际变化特征及其与热带气旋生成大尺度环境因子的联系

利用ERA-Interim再分析资料分析了夏秋季西北太平洋季风槽的气候特征以及季节和年际变化特征及其对西北太平洋热带气旋和台风(TCs)生成大尺度环境因子的影响。研究结果表明了西北太平洋季风槽有很明显的季节变化,在6~7月,季风槽和强对流活动区在5°N~15°N的南海和西北太平洋西侧上空,并逐渐东伸;到了8~9月,季风槽和强对流活动区向北移动、并向东扩展,一般位于10°N~20°N的南海和西北太平洋西侧、中部上空,有的年份可东伸到西北太平洋东侧,强度加强;到了10~11月,季风槽迅速减弱,并成为涡旋,强对流活动区也向南移和向西收缩。同时,研究还表明了西北太平洋季风槽有明显的年际变化。在季风槽强的年份,季风槽和强对流活动区可以从南海经西北太平洋西侧和中部东伸到西北太平洋的东侧上空;而在季风槽弱的年份,季风槽和强对流活动区主要位于南海和西北太平洋西侧和中部上空,季风槽强度的年际变化对它的季节变化也有重要影响。此外,研究还表明了随着季风槽的季节和年际变化,西北太平洋TCs生成的大尺度环境因子分布也发生很明显的变化。     

Northward Shift in Landfall Locations of Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific during the Last Four Decades

This study analyzes landfall locations of tropical cyclones(TCs)over the western North Pacific during 1979–2018.Results demonstrate that the landfall locations of TCs over this region have shifted northward during the last four decades,primarily due to the shift of landfalling TC tracks,with the decreasing/increasing proportion of westward/northward TC tracks.In particular,the northward shift of the landfalling TCs was not related to their formation locations,which have not markedly changed,whereas"no-landed"TCs have significantly shifted northward.TC movement was significantly and positively correlated to the zonal component of the steering flow,while the correlation between TC movement and the meridional component of the steering flow was relatively unobvious.The westward steering flow in the tropical central Pacific that occurred around the formation and early development of the westward TCs was significantly weakened,which was unfavorable for their westward movement,thereby,causing the higher proportions of northward moving tracks.This weakened westward flow was related to the northward shift of the subtropical high ridge,which was caused by significant weakening of the southern part of the subtropical high.The vertical wind shear,sea surface temperature,and convective available potential energy also showed that the northern region of the western North Pacific became more favorable for TC development,whereas the upper divergence,low-layer relative vorticity,and accumulated water vapor content were not obviously related to the northward shift of TCs.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE GENESIS IN THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC DURING THE DEVELOPING AND DECAYING PHASES OF TWO TYPES OF EL NI?O

During the developing phase of central Pacific El Nio(CPEN), more frequent TC genesis over the northwest quadrant of the western North Pacific(WNP) is attributed to the horizontal shift of environmental vorticity field.Such a northwestward shift resembles the La Nia composite, even though factors that cause the shift differ(in the La Nia case the relative humidity effect is crucial). Greater reduction of TC frequency over WNP happened during the decaying phase of eastern Pacific El Nio(EPEN) than CPEN, due to the difference of the anomalous Philippine Sea anticyclone strength. The TC genesis exhibits an upward(downward) trend over the northern(southern) part of the WNP,which is linked to SST and associated circulation changes through local and remote effects.     

Simulated impacts of two types of ENSO events on tropical cyclone activity in the western North Pacific: large-scale atmospheric response

The present paper uses an atmospheric general circulation model to explore large-scale atmospheric response to various El Niño-Southern Oscillation events associated with tropical cyclone (TC) activity in the western North Pacific. The simulated response is basically consistent with and confirms the observed results. For eastern Pacific warm (EPW) event, anomalously wet ascent occurs over the tropical central/eastern Pacific and dry descent is over the western Pacific. This Walker circulation is associated with anomalous low-level convergence, reduced vertical wind shear (VWS), and enhanced genesis potential index (GPI) in the southeast sub-region. These are consistent with the observed increase of the TC formation in the southeast sub-region but decrease in the northwest sub-region during July–September (JAS) and the increase in the southwest and northwest sub-regions during October–December (OND). In addition, the strong westerly anomalies of the TC steering flow prevail in the East Asian coast, suppressing the TC northwestward or westward tracks. For eastern Pacific cold (EPC) event, all of the simulated variables show almost a mirror image of EPW. For central Pacific warm event, the anomalous Walker circulation shifts westward because of the westward shift of the maximum SST anomaly forcing. The anomalous subsidence associated with the western branch of the Walker circulation during OND shifts northward to the South China Seas, resulting in a decrease of the TC genesis there. The TC steering flow patterns during JAS are favorable for TCs to make landfall over Japan and Korea. Compared with EPC, the descending motion in the central/eastern Pacific is much stronger for central Pacific cold (CPC) event, accompanied by more enhanced VWS and reduced GPI in the southeast sub-region. Therefore, CPC provides a more adverse environment to the TC formation there during JAS and OND, consistent with the observed decrease of TC formation there. Moreover, the easterly anomalies of the TC steering flow dominate the tropics during JAS, enhancing TC activity in the east coast of China. Additionally, the convection over the western Pacific moves to the South China Sea during OND, favoring the TC genesis there.     

1965-2010年7-9月影响中国的热带气旋降水变化趋势分析

利用中国气象局逐日台站降水和上海台风研究所最佳台风路径等资料,对1965—2010年夏季(7—9月)影响中国热带气旋降水的变化趋势及影响机制进行了分析。热带气旋降水主要影响中国东部和南部,夏季平均的热带气旋降水由沿海向内陆,由东南向西北递减。自1965年以来,夏季影响中国的热带气旋降水呈现华东及东南沿海增多,华南沿海、海南岛以及西南地区减少的变化趋势。分析发现,一方面夏季西北太平洋副热带高压加强西伸,导致同期中国东部地区上空水汽辐合增强;另一方面热带气旋的引导气流发生变化,使夏季热带气旋盛行路径由南海向东亚沿岸偏移,这两个因子的共同作用致使影响中国的热带气旋降水发生变化。     

GFDL_RegCM对21世纪西北太平洋热带气旋活动的情景预估

首先评估了GFDL模式对西北太平洋热带气旋(TC)环境热力及动力因子的模拟性能,再利用夏威夷大学国际太平洋研究中心高分辨率区域气候模式( IPRC-RegCM),进行降尺度研究西北太平洋TC活动特征,在此基础上预估21世纪全球变暖背景下(A1B)西北太平洋TC活动的主要特点.结果显示,在西北太平洋TC活动区,GFDL控制试验的海平面温度(SST)比ERSST偏低.与NCEP/NCAR再分析资料相比,GFDL模拟的1980-1999年大尺度环流平均场表现为:副高脊线平均位置近乎一致,西伸脊点偏东,强度偏弱,面积偏小；季风槽槽线的范围偏小,强度偏弱；水平风垂直切变值在南海及菲律宾群岛海域偏小,而在160°E～170°W的20°N以南偏强.与NCEP/NCAR强迫的模拟结果相比,GFDL强迫得到的TC源地频数在南海偏少,菲律宾群岛以东海域偏多,两者的季节及年际变化特征相似.路径频数在南海北部和我国华南沿岸显著偏多.AlB情景下,西北太平洋TC生成数目将增加一倍,生成源地偏北且同时向东部洋而扩展,路径频数增多主要发生在20°N以北的中东部洋面上,移经西北太平洋西部的TC频数减少,由此影响我国的TC将减少.TC频数的季节分布发生较大变化,最多的月份在10月.TC平均强度增强,最大强度在10月增加最多,这与10月SST的增加和环境风切变的减小均为最大值有密切的关系.     

西北太平洋热带气旋频数及生成位置的气候变化研究进展

自20世纪70年代末期以来,西北太平洋的热带气旋在全球变暖的背景下主要发生了两种宏观的气候变化：一个是热带气旋生成频数呈现年代际减少,尤其是在东南部海域;另一个则是其生成与活动位置等总体特征有向西北偏移的趋势。本文对这两个方面的研究进展进行了概述。近些年的研究表明,垂直风切变的增强可能是夏秋季热带气旋频数减少的最主要原因,这与太平洋-印度洋海面温度变化导致的大尺度环境变化有密切联系。同样有研究认为北大西洋海面温度的多年代际振荡对近期西北太平洋热带气旋生成频数的减少也非常重要。但西北太平洋西部强热带气旋的频数呈现出增加的趋势,这可能与东亚近海海面温度的显著升高有关,尽管这种变化是否可信仍有争议。近20年来,西北太平洋热带气旋活动普遍出现西北移倾向,包括生成位置和路径位置,这种变化可能受到了ENSO变异及20世纪90年代末期太平洋气候突变的调控。同时,热带环流的极向扩张又导致了热带气旋的有利环境向北扩张,因此西北太平洋热带气旋活动也出现极向迁移的趋势。     

夏季亚洲-太平洋涛动与中国近海热带气旋活动的关系

采用联合台风警报中心的台风最伟路径资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析了夏季亚洲-太平洋涛动(Asian-Pacif-ic Oscillation,简称APO)与东亚近海-西北太平洋大气环流的关系,并进一步探讨了APO与中国近海热带气旋(tropical cy-clone,简称TC)活动的关系.研究表明:(1)夏季APO强弱与同期西北太平洋及中国东部近海TC活动存在密切关系,即在APO强(弱)年,西北太平洋TC活动偏西(东)和偏北(南),中国东部近海TC明显增多(减少);(2)当APO偏强(弱)时,中国东部近海大气环流有(不)利于TC的维持和发展,表现为低层存在异常气旋性(反气旋性)环流,对流层高低层纬向风垂直切变减小(增大),且对流加强(减弱);(3)APO强弱也影响着TC引导气流的方向:在APO强(弱)年,西北太平洋副热带高压(以下简称副高)偏北和偏东(偏南和偏西),副高南侧偏东气流减弱(加强),有利于TC的向西北行或在偏北(南)纬度西行,进入中国东部近海的TC增多(减少);(4)APO强弱也影响着南海-热带西太平洋TC源地上空的大气环流,在APO强(弱)年,南海-热带西太平洋季风槽偏北、偏西(偏南、偏东),热带西太平洋TC活动偏北和偏西(偏南和偏东),有利于进入中国东部近海TC的增多(减少).     

SIMULATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONES OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND LANDFALLING IN CHINA BY REGCM4

This study evaluates the performance of the regional climate model RegCM4 in simulating tropical cyclone (TC) activities over the Western North Pacific (WNP) and their landfalling in China. The model is driven by ERA-Interim boundary conditions at a grid spacing of 25 km, with the simulation period as 1991–2010. Results show that RegCM4 performs well in capturing the main structural features of observed TCs, and in simulating the genesis number and annual cycle of the genesis. The model reproduces the general pattern of the observed TC tracks and occurrence frequency. However, significant underestimation of the occurrence frequency as well as the TC intensity is found. Number of the landfalling TCs over China is also much less than the observed. Bias of the model in reproducing the large-scale circulation pattern and steering flow may contribute to the underestimated landfalling TC numbers.     

近20 a影响我国台风活动变化趋势

利用最新定义的气旋活动指数CAI(Cyclone Activity Index)分析影响我国台风活动近20 a的变化趋势及其可能原因。分析发现,影响我国的台风频数自1996年以来显著减少,主要表现为南方沿海地区热带气旋影响减小,三亚和海口更呈显著下降的趋势(通过信度为0.05的统计检验),而东南方沿海地区热带气旋影响明显增加,厦门、福州、温州、杭州和上海夏季(6—10月)受到影响的程度显著上升(福州、温州和杭州通过信度为0.05的统计,上海和厦门通过信度为0.1的统计检验)。进一步分析表明,热带气旋活动的这些变化与台风盛行路径和强度的变化有密切关系。     

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.     

Estimating the Predictability Limit of Tropical Cyclone Tracks over the Western North Pacific Using Observational Data

In this study, the nonlinear local Lyapunov exponent (NLLE) approach was used to quantitatively determine the predictability limit of tropical cyclone (TC) tracks based on observed TC track data obtained from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The results show that the predictability limit of all TC tracks over the whole western North Pacific (WNP) basin is about 102 h, and the average lifetime of all TC tracks is about 174 h. The predictability limits of the TC tracks for short-, medium-, and long-lived TCs are approximately 72 h, 120 h, and 132 h, respectively. The predictability limit of the TC tracks depends on the TC genesis location, lifetime, and intensity, and further analysis indicated that these three metrics are closely related. The more intense and longer-lived TCs tend to be generated on the eastern side of the WNP (EWNP), whereas the weaker and shorter-lived TCs tend to form in the west of the WNP (WWNP) and the South China Sea (SCS). The relatively stronger and longer-lived TCs, which are generated mainly in the EWNP, have a longer travel time before they curve northeastwards and hence tend to be more predictable than the relatively weaker and shorter-lived TCs that form in the WWNP region and SCS. Furthermore, the results show that the predictability limit of the TC tracks obtained from the best-track data may be underestimated due to the relatively short observational records currently available. Further work is needed, employing a numerical model to assess the predictability of TC tracks.     

2010年西北太平洋与南海热带气旋活动异常的成因分析

利用中国气象局热带气旋（TC）资料、NCEP/NCAR 再分析资料和美国 NOAA 向外长波辐射（OLR）等资料,分析了2010年西北太平洋（WNP）及南海（SCS）热带气旋活动异常的可能成因,讨论了同期大气环流配置和海温外强迫对TC生成和登陆的动力和热力条件的影响。结果表明,2010年生成TC频数明显偏少,生成源地显著偏西,而登陆TC频数与常年持平。导致7～10月TC频数明显偏少的大尺度环境场特征为：副热带高压较常年异常偏强、西伸脊点偏西,季风槽位置异常偏西,弱垂直风切变带位置也较常年偏西且范围偏小,南亚高压异常偏强,贝加尔湖附近对流层低高层均为反气旋距平环流,这些关键环流因子的特征和配置都不利于 TC 在WNP的东部生成。影响TC活动的外强迫场特征为：2010年热带太平洋经历了El Ni?o事件于春末夏初消亡、La Ni?a事件于7月形成的转换;7～10月,WNP海表温度维持正距平,140°E以东为负距平且对流活动受到抑制;暖池次表层海温异常偏暖,对应上空850 hPa为东风距平,有利于季风槽偏西和TC在WNP的西北侧海域生成。WNP海表温度和暖池次表层海温的特征是2010年TC生成频数偏少、生成源地异常偏西的重要外强迫信号。有利于7～10月热带气旋西行和登陆的500 hPa风场特征为：北太平洋为反气旋环流距平,其南侧为东风异常,该东风异常南缘可到25°N,并向西扩展至中国大陆地区;南海和西北太平洋地区15°N以南的低纬也为东风异常;在这样的风场分布型下,TC容易受偏东气流引导西行并登陆我国沿海地区。这是2010年生成TC偏少但登陆TC并不少的重要环流条件。