scholarly journals CFSv2-Based Statistical Prediction for Seasonal Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) over the Western North Pacific

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 525-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruifen Zhan ◽  
Yuqing Wang

Abstract A hybrid dynamical–statistical model is developed for predicting the accumulated cyclone energy (ACE)—a measure that can synthesize genesis number, mean life span, and intensity of tropical cyclones (TCs)—in the typhoon season (June–October) over the western North Pacific (WNP) using data from both observations and seasonal forecasts of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP’s) Climate Forecast System, version 2 (CFSv2). The model is built on the relationships between the observed ACE and the large-scale variables for the period of 1982–2010. Four predictors are selected based on both previous work in the literature and statistical analyses in this study, including vertical zonal wind shear over the equatorial western North Pacific (Ushear), sea surface temperature (SST) gradient (SSTG) between the southwestern Pacific (SWP) and the western Pacific warm pool, Niño-3.4 SST, and SWP SST. Based on the cross validation, the hybrid model is finally constructed with the combination of the summer Niño-3.4 and SWP SST at the 4-to-2-month lead (January–March) and the summer Ushear and the April SSTG at the 1-to-0-month lead (April–May). The hybrid model is shown to be skillful in predicting WNP seasonal ACE starting from January, with the correlation coefficient ranging between 0.58 and 0.81 and the root-mean-square error ranging between 1.26 and 0.91 (scaled by 105 m2 s−2) initiated from January to May. The prediction experiments for 2011–13 using the hybrid dynamical–statistical model showed better skill and longer leads than that using the pure statistical models.

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 3357-3372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruifen Zhan ◽  
Yuqing Wang ◽  
Jiuwei Zhao

Abstract This study attempts to evaluate quantitatively the contributions of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Indo-Pacific Ocean to the interannual variability of tropical cyclone (TC) genesis frequency (TCGF) over the western North Pacific (WNP). Three SST factors in the Indo-Pacific Ocean are found to play key roles in modulating the interannual variability of WNP TCGF. They are summer SST anomaly in the east Indian Ocean (EIO), the summer El Niño–Southern Oscillation Modoki index (EMI), and the spring SST gradient (SSTG) between the southwestern Pacific and the western Pacific warm pool. Results show that the three factors together can explain 72% of the total variance of WNP TCGF in the typhoon season for the period 1980–2015. Among them, the spring SSTG and the summer EIO contribute predominantly to the interannual variability of TCGF, followed by the summer EMI, with respective contributions being 39%, 38%, and 23%. Further analysis shows that the summer EMI was affected significantly by the spring SSTG and thus had a relatively lower contribution to the TCGF than the spring SSTG. In addition, a statistical model is constructed to predict the WNP TCGF in the typhoon season by a combination of the May EIO and the spring SSTG. The new model can reproduce well the observed WNP TCGF and shows an overall better skill than the ECMWF Seasonal Forecasting System 5 (SEAS5) hindcasts. This statistical model provides a good tool for seasonal prediction of WNP TCGF.


2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
pp. 2006-2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Shang Lee ◽  
Kevin K. W. Cheung ◽  
Jenny S. N. Hui ◽  
Russell L. Elsberry

Abstract The mesoscale features of 124 tropical cyclone formations in the western North Pacific Ocean during 1999–2004 are investigated through large-scale analyses, satellite infrared brightness temperature (TB), and Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) oceanic wind data. Based on low-level wind flow and surge direction, the formation cases are classified into six synoptic patterns: easterly wave (EW), northeasterly flow (NE), coexistence of northeasterly and southwesterly flow (NE–SW), southwesterly flow (SW), monsoon confluence (MC), and monsoon shear (MS). Then the general convection characteristics and mesoscale convective system (MCS) activities associated with these formation cases are studied under this classification scheme. Convection processes in the EW cases are distinguished from the monsoon-related formations in that the convection is less deep and closer to the formation center. Five characteristic temporal evolutions of the deep convection are identified: (i) single convection event, (ii) two convection events, (iii) three convection events, (iv) gradual decrease in TB, and (v) fluctuating TB, or a slight increase in TB before formation. Although no dominant temporal evolution differentiates cases in the six synoptic patterns, evolutions ii and iii seem to be the common routes taken by the monsoon-related formations. The overall percentage of cases with MCS activity at multiple times is 63%, and in 35% of cases more than one MCS coexisted. Most of the MC and MS cases develop multiple MCSs that lead to several episodes of deep convection. These two patterns have the highest percentage of coexisting MCSs such that potential interaction between these systems may play a role in the formation process. The MCSs in the monsoon-related formations are distributed around the center, except in the NE–SW cases in which clustering of MCSs is found about 100–200 km east of the center during the 12 h before formation. On average only one MCS occurs during an EW formation, whereas the mean value is around two for the other monsoon-related patterns. Both the mean lifetime and time of first appearance of MCS in EW are much shorter than those developed in other synoptic patterns, which indicates that the overall formation evolution in the EW case is faster. Moreover, this MCS is most likely to be found within 100 km east of the center 12 h before formation. The implications of these results to internal mechanisms of tropical cyclone formation are discussed in light of other recent mesoscale studies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1038-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yamei Xu ◽  
Tim Li ◽  
Melinda Peng

Abstract The Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC) high-resolution global reanalysis dataset was analyzed to reveal precursor synoptic-scale disturbances related to tropical cyclone (TC) genesis in the western North Pacific (WNP) during the 2008–09 typhoon seasons. A time filtering is applied to the data to isolate synoptic (3–10 day), quasi-biweekly (10–20 day), and intraseasonal (20–90 day) time-scale components. The results show that four types of precursor synoptic disturbances associated with TC genesis can be identified in the YOTC data. They are 1) Rossby wave trains associated with preexisting TC energy dispersion (TCED) (24%), 2) synoptic wave trains (SWTs) unrelated to TCED (32%), 3) easterly waves (EWs) (16%), and 4) a combination of either TCED-EW or SWT-EW (24%). The percentage of identifiable genesis events is higher than has been found in previous analyses. Most of the genesis events occurred when atmospheric quasi-biweekly and intraseasonal oscillations are in an active phase, suggesting a large-scale control of low-frequency oscillations on TC formation in the WNP. For genesis events associated with SWT and EW, maximum vorticity was confined in the lower troposphere. During the formation of Jangmi (2008), maximum Rossby wave energy dispersion appeared in the middle troposphere. This differs from other TCED cases in which energy dispersion is strongest at low level. As a result, the midlevel vortex from Rossby wave energy dispersion grew faster during the initial development stage of Jangmi.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1355-1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Tallapragada ◽  
Chanh Kieu ◽  
Samuel Trahan ◽  
Zhan Zhang ◽  
Qingfu Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract This study documents the recent efforts of the hurricane modeling team at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) in implementing the operational Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF) for real-time tropical cyclone (TC) forecast guidance in the western North Pacific basin (WPAC) from May to December 2012 in support of the operational forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). Evaluation of model performance for the WPAC in 2012 reveals that the model has promising skill with the 3-, 4-, and 5-day track errors being 125, 220, and 290 nautical miles (n mi; 1 n mi = 1.852 km), respectively. Intensity forecasts also show good performance, with the most significant intensity error reduction achieved during the first 24 h. Stratification of the track and intensity forecast errors based on storm initial intensity reveals that HWRF tends to underestimate storm intensity for weak storms and overestimate storm intensity for strong storms. Further analysis of the horizontal distribution of track and intensity forecast errors over the WPAC suggests that HWRF possesses a systematic negative intensity bias, slower movement, and a rightward bias in the lower latitudes. At higher latitudes near the East China Sea, HWRF shows a positive intensity bias and faster storm movement. This appears to be related to underestimation of the dominant large-scale system associated with the western Pacific subtropical high, which renders weaker steering flows in this basin.


2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 2226-2241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasu-Masa Kodama ◽  
Haruna Okabe ◽  
Yukie Tomisaka ◽  
Katsuya Kotono ◽  
Yoshimi Kondo ◽  
...  

Abstract Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission observations from multiple sensors including precipitation radar, microwave and infrared radiometers, and a lightning sensor were used to describe precipitation, lightning frequency, and microphysical properties of precipitating clouds over the midlatitude ocean. Precipitation over midlatitude oceans was intense during winter and was often accompanied by frequent lightning. Case studies over the western North Pacific from January and February 2000 showed that some lightning occurred in deep precipitating clouds that developed around cyclones and their attendant fronts. Lightning also occurred in convective clouds that developed in regions of large-scale subsidence behind extratropical cyclones where cold polar air masses were strongly heated and moistened from below by the ocean. The relationships between lightning frequency and the minimum polarization corrected temperature (PCT) at 37 and 85 GHz and the profile of the maximum radar reflectivity resembled relationships derived previously for cases in the Tropics. Smaller lapse rates in the maximum radar reflectivity above the melting level indicate vigorous convection that, although shallow and relatively rare, was as strong as convection over tropical oceans. Lightning was most frequent in systems for which the minimum PCT at 37 GHz was less than 260 K. Lightning and PCT at 85 GHz were not as well correlated as lightning and PCT at 37 GHz. Thus, lightning was frequent in convective clouds that contained many large hydrometeors in the mixed-phase layer, because PCT is more sensitive to large hydrometeors at 37 than at 85 GHz. The relationship between lightning occurrence and cloud-top heights derived from infrared observations was not straightforward. Microphysical conditions that support lightning over the midlatitude ocean in winter were similar to conditions in the Tropics and are consistent with Takahashi’s theory of riming electrification.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (14) ◽  
pp. 5597-5603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian Chen ◽  
Zhong Zhong ◽  
Wei Lu

The NCEP–NCAR reanalysis dataset and the tropical cyclone (TC) best-track dataset from the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) Tokyo Typhoon Center were employed in the present study to investigate the possible linkage of the meridional displacement of the East Asian subtropical upper-level jet (EASJ) with the TC activity over the western North Pacific (WNP). Results indicate that summertime frequent TC activities would create the poleward shift of the EASJ through a stimulated Pacific–Japan (PJ) teleconnection pattern as well as the changed large-scale meridional temperature gradient. On the contrary, in the inactive TC years, the EASJ is often located more southward than normal with an enhanced intensity. Therefore, TC activities over the WNP are closely related to the location and intensity of the EASJ in summer at the interannual time scale.


2012 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 1067-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Fu ◽  
Melinda S. Peng ◽  
Tim Li ◽  
Duane E. Stevens

Global daily reanalysis fields from the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) are used to analyze Northern Hemisphere summertime (June–September) developing and nondeveloping disturbances for tropical cyclone (TC) formation from 2003 to 2008. This is Part II of the study focusing on the western North Pacific (WNP), following Part I for the North Atlantic (NATL) basin. Tropical cyclone genesis in the WNP shows different characteristics from that in the NATL in both large-scale environmental conditions and prestorm disturbances. A box difference index (BDI) is used to identify parameters in differentiating between the developing and nondeveloping disturbances. In order of importance, they are 1) 800-hPa maximum relative vorticity, 2) rain rate, 3) vertically averaged horizontal shear, 4) vertically averaged divergence, 5) 925–400-hPa water vapor content, 6) SST, and 7) translational speed. The study indicates that dynamic variables are more important in TC genesis in the WNP, while in Part I of the study the thermodynamic variables are identified as more important in the NATL. The characteristic differences between the WNP and the NATL are compared.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 3806-3820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xidong Wang ◽  
Chunzai Wang ◽  
Liping Zhang ◽  
Xin Wang

Abstract This study investigates the variation of tropical cyclone (TC) rapid intensification (RI) in the western North Pacific (WNP) and its relationship with large-scale climate variability. RI events have exhibited strikingly multidecadal variability. During the warm (cold) phase of the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), the annual RI number is generally lower (higher) and the average location of RI occurrence tends to shift southeastward (northwestward). The multidecadal variations of RI are associated with the variations of large-scale ocean and atmosphere variables such as sea surface temperature (SST), tropical cyclone heat potential (TCHP), relative humidity (RHUM), and vertical wind shear (VWS). It is shown that their variations on multidecadal time scales depend on the evolution of the PDO phase. The easterly trade wind is strengthened during the cold PDO phase at low levels, which tends to make equatorial warm water spread northward into the main RI region rsulting from meridional ocean advection associated with Ekman transport. Simultaneously, an anticyclonic wind anomaly is formed in the subtropical gyre of the WNP. This therefore may deepen the depth of the 26°C isotherm and directly increase TCHP over the main RI region. These thermodynamic effects associated with the cold PDO phase greatly support RI occurrence. The reverse is true during the warm PDO phase. The results also indicate that the VWS variability in the low wind shear zone along the monsoon trough may not be critical for the multidecadal modulation of RI events.


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