Analysis of Tropical Cyclogenesis in the Western North Pacific for 2000 and 2001*

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Fu ◽  
Tim Li ◽  
Melinda S. Peng ◽  
Fuzhong Weng

Abstract High-resolution satellite data and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data are used to analyze 34 tropical cyclone (TC) genesis events in the western North Pacific during the 2000 and 2001 typhoon seasons. Three types of synoptic-scale disturbances are identified in the pregenesis stages. They are tropical cyclone energy dispersions (TCEDs), synoptic wave trains (SWTs) unrelated to preexisting TCs, and easterly waves (EWs). Among the total 34 TC genesis cases, 6 are associated with TCEDs, 11 cases are associated with SWTs, and 7 cases are associated with EWs. The analyses presented herein indicate that the occurrence of a TCED depends on the TC intensity and the background flow, with stronger cyclones and weaker background easterlies being more likely to induce a Rossby wave train. Not all Rossby wave trains would lead to the formation of a new TC. Among the 11 SWT cases, 4 cases are triggered by equatorial mixed Rossby–gravity waves. Cyclogenesis events associated with EWs are identified by the westward propagation of the perturbation kinetic energy and precipitation fields. For all three types of prestorm disturbances, it seems that scale contraction of the disturbances and convergence forcing from the large-scale environmental flow are possible mechanisms leading to the genesis. Further examination of the remaining 10 genesis cases with no significant prior synoptic-scale surface signals suggests three additional possible genesis scenarios: 1) a disturbance with upper-tropospheric forcing, 2) interaction of a preexisting TC with southwesterly monsoon flows, and 3) preexisting convective activity with no significant initial low-level vorticity. Tropical intraseasonal oscillations have a significant modulation on TC formation, especially in 2000.

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 4469-4485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liguang Wu ◽  
Jingjing Duan

Abstract Previous studies suggest that the low-frequency background makes an important contribution to the predictability of tropical cyclone (TC) activity on the intraseasonal time scale by providing large-scale conditions favorable for TC formation. Extended numerical experiments were conducted to demonstrate additional low-frequency influence on TC activity, which results from the development of a synoptic-scale wave train. The cyclonic circulation of the wave train provides low-level synoptic-scale disturbances for TC formation. The observed TC formation events over the western North Pacific during 14 August–10 September 2004 were first successfully simulated with the initial and lateral conditions derived from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Final (FNL) Operational Global Analysis. Then the 27-day extended experiment was repeated only with the initial and lateral boundary conditions derived from the FNL low-frequency (longer than 20 days) background. It is found that the development of the synoptic-scale wave train can be well simulated with TCs forming in the cyclonic circulations of the wave train although the wavelength of the simulated wave train is substantially reduced in the absence of higher-frequency influences with periods shorter than 20 days. Sensitivity experiments indicate that the development of wave trains is sensitive to the initial monsoon trough structure. This study suggests that the synoptic-scale wave train can develop in situ and does not need upstream precursors.


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 148 (10) ◽  
pp. 4035-4059
Author(s):  
Kevin C. Prince ◽  
Clark Evans

AbstractWhile it is understood that a recurving tropical cyclone (TC) that interacts with the midlatitude flow can cause large changes to the midlatitude flow pattern, it is much less understood if, and how, such events could impact a downstream tropical cyclone. Here, an indirect TC interaction is defined as one in which a primary TC perturbs the downstream midlatitude waveguide within one synoptic-scale wavelength of a secondary TC. In this study, a climatology and composite analysis using ERA-Interim reanalysis data is completed for all indirect interactions occurring between two tropical and/or subtropical cyclones in the North Atlantic and western North Pacific basins between 1989 and 2018. In all, 26 cases are identified in the North Atlantic and 56 cases are identified in the western North Pacific. The composite-mean interaction between a primary TC and upstream trough amplifies the immediate downstream ridge, increasing the tropospheric-deep vertical wind shear on its poleward and, in the western North Pacific, eastern, and equatorward flanks. An amplified downstream trough is detectable farther downstream in the western North Pacific 1–2 days after interaction onset; however, the same is not true in the North Atlantic, in which some cases exhibit anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking of the immediate downstream ridge. Secondary TCs that weaken following the indirect-interaction events are primarily located along the gradient between the downstream ridge and trough (North Atlantic) or at high latitudes (western North Pacific); those that strengthen are primarily located equatorward of the downstream ridge, particularly in the western North Pacific.


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.


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.


2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1377-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Li ◽  
Bing Fu

Abstract The structure and evolution characteristics of Rossby wave trains induced by tropical cyclone (TC) energy dispersion are revealed based on the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) data. Among 34 cyclogenesis cases analyzed in the western North Pacific during 2000–01 typhoon seasons, six cases are associated with the Rossby wave energy dispersion of a preexisting TC. The wave trains are oriented in a northwest–southeast direction, with alternating cyclonic and anticyclonic vorticity circulation. A typical wavelength of the wave train is about 2500 km. The TC genesis is observed in the cyclonic circulation region of the wave train, possibly through a scale contraction process. The satellite data analyses reveal that not all TCs have a Rossby wave train in their wakes. The occurrence of the Rossby wave train depends to a certain extent on the TC intensity and the background flow. Whether or not a Rossby wave train can finally lead to cyclogenesis depends on large-scale dynamic and thermodynamic conditions related to both the change of the seasonal mean state and the phase of the tropical intraseasonal oscillation. Stronger low-level convergence and cyclonic vorticity, weaker vertical shear, and greater midtropospheric moisture are among the favorable large-scale conditions. The rebuilding process of a conditional unstable stratification is important in regulating the frequency of TC genesis.


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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