Real world and tropical cyclone world. Part II: sensitivity of tropical cyclone formation to uniform and meridionally varying sea surface temperatures under aquaplanet conditions

Article

Walsh, K. J. E., Sur, Sharmila, Thatcher, M., Wales, S., Utembe, S. and Vaughan, A.. 2020. "Real world and tropical cyclone world. Part II: sensitivity of tropical cyclone formation to uniform and meridionally varying sea surface temperatures under aquaplanet conditions." Journal of Climate. 33 (4), pp. 1473-1486. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0079.1
Article Title

Real world and tropical cyclone world. Part II: sensitivity of tropical cyclone formation to uniform and meridionally varying sea surface temperatures under aquaplanet conditions

ERA Journal ID1978
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsWalsh, K. J. E. (Author), Sur, Sharmila (Author), Thatcher, M. (Author), Wales, S. (Author), Utembe, S. (Author) and Vaughan, A. (Author)
Journal TitleJournal of Climate
Journal Citation33 (4), pp. 1473-1486
Number of Pages14
Year2020
PublisherAmerican Meteorological Society
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISSN0894-8755
1520-0442
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0079.1
Web Address (URL)https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/33/4/jcli-d-19-0079.1.xml
Abstract

This study aims to investigate the response of simulated tropical cyclone formation to specific climate conditions, using an idealized aquaplanet framework of an ~40-km-horizontal-resolution atmospheric general circulation model. Two sets of idealized model experiments have been performed, one with a set of uniformly distributed constant global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and another in which varying meridional SST gradients are imposed. The results show that the strongest relationship between climate and tropical cyclone formation is with vertical static stability: increased static stability is strongly associated with decreased tropical cyclone formation. Vertical wind shear and midtropospheric vertical velocity also appear to be related to tropical cyclone formation, although below a threshold value of wind shear there appears to be little relationship. The relationship of tropical cyclone formation with maximum potential intensity and mean sea surface temperature is weak and not monotonic. These simulations strongly suggest that vertical static stability should be part of any climate theory of tropical cyclone formation.

Keywordstropical cyclones; climate models; climate variability
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020370201. Climate change processes
370199. Atmospheric sciences not elsewhere classified
370105. Atmospheric dynamics
370108. Meteorology
370899. Oceanography not elsewhere classified
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Melbourne
Centre for Applied Climate Sciences
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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