Impact of Different Types of ENSO Years on Intensity Changes of Landfalling Tropical Cyclones over China

Abstract

This study examines whether there are significant differences in intensity and destructiveness of landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) over China in central Pacific warm (CPW), eastern Pacific warm (EPW) and La Niña (LA) years. By analyzing different seasons and locations of TCs making landfall over China, it was found that TCs in LA years generally had a larger power dissipation index (PDI) and may cause more disasters in China, while TCs in EPW years had a larger PDI over South China in autumn. A larger PDI of TCSC (landing location in Southern China) usually occurred in EPW years and a larger PDI of TCEC (landing location in Eastern China) occurred in LA years, compared with CPW years. The TCs in LA years were generally stronger, more frequent, and of longer duration over China, because of the positive relative humidity (RH) anomalies, the significant anomalous cyclone that occupied the South China Sea (SCS), and the easterly wind anomalies providing a beneficial steering flow for TCs making landfall. In EPW years, although TCs were less frequent, they had stronger intensity when making landfall and a longer lifetime over land which was mainly caused by a broad band of anomalous westerlies over the SCS giving rise to a belt of positive relative vorticity anomalies, as well as the slow translation speed of TCs before landfall supplying more energy for TCs to survive over land. Overall, we conclude that greater caution is warranted when TCs occur in LA and EPW years, as they may result in more serious disasters in China.

Combined Effect of the PDO and ENSO on the Date of the First Tropical Cyclone Landfall in Continental East Asia

“…Tropical cyclones (TCs) are one of the most devastating natural disasters along with gales, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, usually causing significant casualties and economic losses especially before or after their landfall (Corporal‐Lodangco et al., 2016; Park et al., 2011; Q. Zhang et al., 2009; Zhou & Lu, 2019). In recent years, TC landfall has attracted considerable attention amongst researchers, but most studies have focused on the variations of TC frequency, track, and intensity in the western North Pacific (WNP; J. W. Choi & Kim, 2019; K. S. Choi & Moon, 2012; Geng et al., 2016; Huang, He, et al., 2017; R. C. Y. Li & Zhou, 2012; L. Liu, 2019; Lok & Chan, 2018; Qian et al., 2018; X. Wang et al., 2014; W.‐Q. Zhang et al., 2018).…”

Riverine Flooding and Landfalling Tropical Cyclones Over China

“…In addition, there is evidence for an increasing trend in TC intensity and duration in the past decades (e.g., Emanuel, ; Li et al, ; Mei & Xie, ; Tu et al, ). TC activity in the WNP basin shows strong modulation by large‐scale climate patterns, such as El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO; e.g., Liu, ; Patricola et al, ; Zhao & Wang, ; Camargo & Sobel, ; Chan, ; Zhan et al, ; Wang & Chan, ). However, quantifying the impacts of changes in TC activity on riverine flooding remains elusive.…”