Decadal Variations of Decadal Variations of Intense Typhoon Activity Intense Typhoon Activity Johnny Chan Johnny Chan CityU-IAP Laboratory for Atmospheric Science CityU-IAP Laboratory for Atmospheric Science Laboratory for Atmospheric Research Laboratory for Atmospheric Research Dept. of Physics & Mat. Sci. Dept. of Physics & Mat. Sci. City University of Hong Kong City University of Hong Kong in Relation to the Global Warming Issue in Relation to the Global Warming Issue
Decadal Variations of Intense Typhoon Activity. in Relation to the Global Warming Issue. Johnny Chan CityU-IAP Laboratory for Atmospheric Science Laboratory for Atmospheric Research Dept. of Physics & Mat. Sci. City University of Hong Kong. Outline. What has been said - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Decadal Variations of Intense Decadal Variations of Intense Typhoon ActivityTyphoon Activity
Johnny ChanJohnny Chan
CityU-IAP Laboratory for Atmospheric ScienceCityU-IAP Laboratory for Atmospheric Science
Laboratory for Atmospheric ResearchLaboratory for Atmospheric Research
Dept. of Physics & Mat. Sci.Dept. of Physics & Mat. Sci.
City University of Hong KongCity University of Hong Kong
in Relation to the Global Warming Issuein Relation to the Global Warming Issue
OutlineOutline
• What has been said
• What is actually observed
• Controls on typhoon intensity on climate scales– thermodynamic– dynamic
• Conclusion
Webster et al.’s (2005) Webster et al.’s (2005) ScienceScience paper paper
1975-89 1990-2004
Number 75 115
Percentage 32 42
No. of Category 4 and 5 TyphoonsNo. of Category 4 and 5 Typhoons
Summary on thermodynamic controlSummary on thermodynamic control
•Southeastern part of western North Pacific appears to Southeastern part of western North Pacific appears to be a critical region – the be a critical region – the keykey region region
During periods of above-normal number of intense During periods of above-normal number of intense typhoonstyphoons, the following thermodynamic characteristics , the following thermodynamic characteristics are found in the key region:are found in the key region:
•SST is higherSST is higher
•more energy for convectionmore energy for convection
•lower troposphere more convectively unstable – indeed lower troposphere more convectively unstable – indeed more rainfall observedmore rainfall observed
higher potential for tropical cyclones to form in the higher potential for tropical cyclones to form in the key regionkey region
200-hPa minus 850-hPa Zonal Wind Shear200-hPa minus 850-hPa Zonal Wind ShearPeriod A1 minus Period B Period A2 minus Period B
Tracks of Intense Tracks of Intense TyphoonsTyphoons
Period A1 Period A2
Period B
Frequency of Frequency of Occurrence of Occurrence of
Intense TyphoonsIntense Typhoons
Period A1 Period A2
Period B
Blue shading: 95% Green shading: 90%
Period A1 minus Period B Period A2 minus Period B
Difference in the Frequency of Occurrence Difference in the Frequency of Occurrence of Intense Typhoonsof Intense Typhoons
Summary on dynamic controlSummary on dynamic control
During periods of above-normal number of intense During periods of above-normal number of intense typhoonstyphoons, the following dynamic characteristics are , the following dynamic characteristics are found in the key region:found in the key region:
•higher cyclonic rotationhigher cyclonic rotation
•less vertical wind shearless vertical wind shear
SummarySummaryDuring periods of above-normal number of intense During periods of above-normal number of intense typhoonstyphoons::
•both thermodynamic and dynamic conditions in the key both thermodynamic and dynamic conditions in the key region favour the formation of tropical cyclonesregion favour the formation of tropical cyclones
•once formed, these cyclones move northwestward once formed, these cyclones move northwestward along paths that continue to have these favourable along paths that continue to have these favourable conditionsconditions
•the atmospheric flow (steering) patterns also allow the atmospheric flow (steering) patterns also allow them to have low-latitude recurvaturethem to have low-latitude recurvature
these cyclones can stay over the ocean under these cyclones can stay over the ocean under favourable conditions for intensification for a longer favourable conditions for intensification for a longer period of time, and hence can become more intenseperiod of time, and hence can become more intense
ConclusionConclusion
•Frequency of intense typhoon occurrence Frequency of intense typhoon occurrence undergoes decadal or multi-decadal undergoes decadal or multi-decadal changes in response to changes in the changes in response to changes in the planetary-scale thermodynamic and planetary-scale thermodynamic and dynamic conditions in the atmospheredynamic conditions in the atmosphere
•Any changes in these conditions, e.g. Any changes in these conditions, e.g. caused by global warming, could therefore caused by global warming, could therefore change such frequency of occurrence change such frequency of occurrence
ConclusionConclusion•However, although thermodynamic However, although thermodynamic conditions may have become more conditions may have become more favourable as a result of global warming, favourable as a result of global warming, evidence has yet to be identified for the evidence has yet to be identified for the dynamic conditions to have become dynamic conditions to have become favourable favourable
•Thus, it is not clear whether global Thus, it is not clear whether global warming will, or can, indeed, lead to more warming will, or can, indeed, lead to more intense typhoons in the western North intense typhoons in the western North PacificPacific