Cloud‐Radiation Feedback Prevents Tropical Cyclones From Reaching Higher Intensities

Abstract

The prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity remains a major scientific challenge. Recent studies indicate that cloud‐radiation feedback (CRF) plays a positive role in the intensification of TCs during their genesis. However, little attention has been given to how CRF affects TC intensity after genesis. This study shows that CRF may prevents TCs from attaining higher maximum intensities. The ascending motion induced by the anomalous radiative heating of TC promotes more latent heating on the outer side of the upper eyewall, resulting in a more tilted eyewall. A more tilted eyewall leads to a larger inner‐core size and less inward flux of absolute vertical vorticity within the inner core, thus preventing the TC from reaching higher intensity. This work highlights that CRF may affect TC intensity by modulating the structure of the inner‐core convection, and further advances our understanding of the interaction between radiation effect and TC dynamics.

Cloud‐Radiation Feedback Facilitates Secondary Eyewall Formation of Tropical Cyclones

“…Meanwhile, a secondary RMW takes place at an 80‐km radius after 36 hr and contracts radially inward to the 60‐km radius, indicating an SEF in CTRL. By comparison, in NRAD48, V max is larger than that of CTRL, implying that CRF could prevent the storm from reaching higher intensity (Yang et al., 2022). Although there is a slight intensity fluctuation after 36 hr, there is no secondary RMW nor SEF in NRAD48, indicating the removal of CRF inhibits SEF.…”

Escalating tropical cyclone precipitation extremes and landslide hazards in South China under global warming

“…Previous modeling studies suggested that the strengthening of TCs due to a warmer sea surface temperature would be counterbalanced by the stabilization of the troposphere under warming 35 . Yet, these studies did not account for cloud-radiative feedback, an element underscored by recent research for its pivotal role in enhancing TCs [36][37][38][39] . The changes in the convective core size and organization might stem from enhanced cloud-radiative feedback under warming.…”