Variability of Tropical Cyclone Activity: Intraseasonal to Interannual Scales

1. Topic 4.1: Variability of Tropical Cyclone Activity/Intensity on Intraseasonal and Interannual Scales (Rapporteur: Chang-Hoi Ho) Joo-Hong Kim (Seoul National University, Korea) 27 November 2006

2. About Topic 4.1 • Objective: To report current status of understanding on variability of tropical cyclone [TC] activity on intraseasonal to interannual timescales. • This topic partly overlaps with topic 2.1. • Global and local factors controlling TC activity • Intraseasonal controlling factors • Madden-Julian oscillation [MJO] • 10- to 25-day oscillation (in the western North Pacific) • Interannual controlling factors • El Niño-Southern Oscillation [ENSO] • Quasi-Biennial oscillation [QBO] • From intraseasonal to interannual controlling factors • Annular modes (Arctic oscillation [AO], Antarctic oscillation [AAO]) and/orNorth Atlantic Oscillation [NAO] in the North Atlantic • African easterly waves [AEWs] and western Sahel rainfall (in the North Atlantic) • Local sea level pressure, sea surface temperature [SST], vertical wind shear, and tropospheric temperature; subtropical high and jets, etc. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

3. Madden-Julian Oscillation [MJO] • Dominant mode of variability in the tropical circulation and convection that has characteristic periods of 30-60 days • Recent publications about its dynamical/physical relationship with global TC activity • North Atlantic [NA]: Maloney and Hartmann (2000a), Mo (2000) • Western North Pacific [WNP]: Liebmann et al. (1994), Harr and Elsberry (1995a, b), Sobel and Maloney (2000), Maloney and Dickinson (2003), etc. • Eastern North Pacific [ENP]: Molinari et al. (1997), Maloney and Hartmann (2000b), Molinari and Vollaro (2000) • Australia and South Pacific [ASP]: Hall et al. (2001) • Indian Ocean [IO]: Liebmann et al. (1994), Bessafi and Wheeler (2006), Ho et al. (2006) “In each basin, composites relative to the storm genesis locations show a similar phase relationship between the wave (including the MJO) and cyclogenesis, suggesting consistent forcing mechanisms.” (Frank and Roundy 2006) Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

4. Active Phase Inactive Phase Adapted from Maloney and Hartmann (2000) MJO – North Atlantic • Maloney and Hartmann (2000, Science) • The MJO is the strongest influencing factor. • Mo (2000, J. Climate) • “Tropical storms are most likely develop and maintain in the Atlantic, when enhanced convection associated with the tropical intraseasonal oscillations is located over the Indian Ocean and convection in the Pacific is suppressed. …” • Remote circulation response to the MJO-related convection alters the vertical wind shear in the NA. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

5. MJO – Western North Pacific • Liebmann et al. (1994) (J. Meteor. Soc. Japan) • The TC activity over the WNP tends to be strong during the MJO convective period. • The ratio of intense systems (TS+TY) to weak systems (TD) seems nearly constant regardless of the convective and/or dry periods. • Maloney and Hartmann (2001, J. Atmospheric Sciences) • During 850-mb MJO westerlies, eddies grow through barotropic eddy kinetic energy conversion from the mean flow • Conversion terms -u’2∂u/∂x, -u’v’∂u/∂y are important. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

6. Regions of Tropical Cyclone Activity North of the Monsoon Trough SCS MT E-MT N-MT South China Sea Monsoon Trough East of the Monsoon Trough 30-60 d U>0 Active MT 28 128* 51 35 242 30-60 d U<0 Inactive MT 18 82* 35 31 166 MJO – Western North Pacific • Harr and Elsberry (2003, adapted from the PPT presented at CWB, Taiwan) Jun-Oct 1979-1998, 408 TCs (Distribution of TC activity stratified according to the 30-60 day zonal wind anomaly in the box eq.-10oN, 120oE-150oE. from Harr and Elsberry (2003) Although the monsoon trough was inactive, 82 TCs formed in the monsoon trough. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

7. MJO – Western North Pacific • Kim et al. (2006, in revision) • Major TC passages experience an east-west displacement on intraseasonal timescale according to the phase of the MJO, but not so dramatic as the impact of ENSO. IO phase + - Transition phase WNP phase - + Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

8. MJO – Eastern North Pacific • Molinari et al. (1997, Monthly Weather Review) • A correspondence between MJO convective heating, strength of the sign reversal of the meridional potential vorticity gradient in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, and eastern Pacific cyclogenesis. • Hypothesis: upstream wave growth (Caribbean Sea), downstream TC genesis (ENP) • Maloney and Hartmann (2000, J. Climate) • Westerly equatorial 850-mb wind anomalies are accompanied by enhanced convection over the ENP hurricane region. • Equatorial Kelvin waves propagating eastward alter dynamical conditions over the ENP. • Molinari and Vollaro (2000, Monthly Weather Review) • Wave growth within the convectively active MJO envelope. • Maloney and Hartmann (2001, J. Atmospheric Sciences) • Barotropic eddy kinetic energy conversion from the mean flow. • Conversion term -u’2∂u/∂x is important. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

9. MJO – Australia and South Pacific • Hall et al. (2001, Monthly Weather Review) • The MJO strongly modulates the TC activity in the ASP with pronounced modulation to the northwest of Australia. • There are significantly more TCs formed during the active MJO phase. • This relationship is strengthened during El Niño periods. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

10. MJO – Indian Ocean - Northern IO • Liebmann et al. (1994, J. Meteorol. Soc. Japan) • Goswami et al. (2003, Geophysical Research Letters) • Including weaker systems (such as lows), they showed the frequency of occurrence of monsoon low pressure systems is nearly 3.5 times higher in the active phase of monsoon as compared to the break phase. From Goswami et al. (2003) Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

11. Shading: OLR Contour: vorticity Vector: TLMW Grey line: zero line of VWS MJO – Indian Ocean - Southern IO • Bessafi and Wheeler (2006, Monthly Weather Review) • The MJO perturbations to both the vorticity and shear fields rather than the convection modulates TC genesis. • Ho et al. (2006, J. Geophysical Research) • Similar conclusions about TC genesis as those of Bessafi and Wheeler (2006) • Additionally, TC tracks are analyzed. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

12. 10- to 25-day Oscillation – Western North Pacific • Northwestward-moving circulation and convection that may be related to the MJO (Hartmann et al. 1992; Kemball-Cook and Wang 2001; Fukutomi and Yasunari 1999, 2002; and many others) • Its timescale is overlapped by the westward-moving equatorial Rossby wave. • Relationship with TC activity • Hartmann et al. (1992, J. Atmospheric Sciences) • “Typhoons appear to have a preferred recurrence period of between 15 and 25 days, …” • Harr et al. (from the PPT presented at Taiwan, 11 Dec 2003) • “The 10-25 day circulations may dominate the MJO to influence TC activity during inactive MJO phases or to influence the timing of TC activity during MJO active periods. The source of the 10-25 day mode is linked to wave activity in the Southern Hemisphere.” • Cross-equatorial influence from the Southern Hemisphere is possibly related to the AAO (e.g., Ho et al. 2005). • Cyclogenesis related to the equatorial Rossby waves seems to reflect this variability (Frank and Roundy 2006, Monthly Weather Review). Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

13. Interannual Variability • Global Factors • ENSO • QBO • AO, AAO and NAO • Local Factors • Vertical wind shear • SST • Subtropical high and jets • Sea level pressure • Tropospheric temperature • Monsoon gyre (in the WNP) • Western Sahel rainfall and AEWs (in the NA) → Factors are dynamically correlated each other. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

14. Interannual Variability – North Atlantic • What we know … • The western Sahel rainfall is negatively correlated with ENSO events. • The activity of AEWs intensifies (weaker) when the rainfall amount over the western Sahel region is above (below) normal. • During El Niño years, westerly wind in the upper troposphere increases over the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic, resulting in an increase of the vertical wind shear over the NA. Consequently, the number of TCs and their duration are reduced. Besides, the probability of U.S. hurricane landfalls becomes lower. • The QBO influence on TC activity is known to be pronounced in the NA than in other basins. Recently, however, the relationship disappeared from 1984 to the present (Landsea, personal communication). • Recent literatures (after 2000) • Thorncroft and Hodges (2001, J. Climate), Tang and Neelin (2004, Geophysical Research Letters), Larson et al. (2005, J. Climate), Xie et al. (2005, J. Climate), Bell and Chelliah (2006, J. Climate), etc. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

15. Atlantic Africa Interannual Variability – North Atlantic • Thorncroft and Hodges (2001, J. Climate) “The 850-hPa easterly wave at the West African coast between about 10°N and 15°N is highly correlated to NA TC activity. The NA TC activity may be influenced by the number of AEWs leaving the West African coast, and not simply by the total number of AEWs.” Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

16. Interannual Variability – North Atlantic • Tang and Neelin (2004, Geophysical Research Letters) • The tropospheric warming spread eastward from the Pacific by equatorial wave dynamics disfavors the TC development by affecting column stability relative to equilibrium with NA SST. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

17. AO (or NAO) – North Atlantic • Larson et al. (2006, J. Climate) • The AO (and/or NAO) has a strong influence on the intraseasonal and interannual variability of NA TC activity. “During La Niña (El Niño) conditions, atmospheric circulation appears more (less) conductive to TC activity in the main developing region [MDR] during AO-positive (negative) conditions than during AO negative (positive) ones.” • An enhanced (decreased) TC activity during the positive (negative) phase of the AO. During the positive phase of the AO, • The subtropical ridge in the NA is enhanced. • The westerly wind shear weakens over the MDR. • The tropical easterly jet intensifies over Africa. → provide favorable conditions for TC development. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

18. Interannual Variability – North Atlantic • Larson et al. (2005, J. Climate) • The impact of ENSO and the AO is greater together than apart. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

19. Interannual Variability – North Atlantic • Xie et al. (2005, J. Climate) • In addition to ENSO and vertical wind shear, hurricane tracks are strongly modulated by the dipole mode of Atlantic SST (SSTDM) as well as the NAO and AO. <EOFs of Hurricane Track Density Function (defined by Anderson and Gyakum 1989)> 1 2 3 VWS (Aug-Oct), SSTDM (Jun-Jul) NAO&AO (Jan-Jun), SSTDM SSTDM Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

20. Interannual Variability – North Atlantic • Bell and Chelliah (2006, J. Climate) • The ENSO teleconnections and impacts on Atlantic hurricane activity can be substantially masked or accentuated by the leading multidecadal modes (1971-1994 inactive decades versus 1995-2004 active decade). Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

21. Interannual Variability – Western North Pacific • What we know … • The active genesis region of the TC moves both eastward and toward the equator, the life span and probability of the intense TC increase, and TCs recurve more often and tend to recurve farther eastward during the warm phase of ENSO. • The northward steering flows increase in the WNP. • There is a notable frequency reduction in TC formation in the summer following of the El Niño year, corresponding to a longitudinal shift of the Walker circulation. • The westerly phase of the QBO corresponds to a larger number of TCs. However, this relationship do not hold true during ENSO years. • The vertical shear equatorward of 18°N over the eastern portion of the WNP is substantially reduced during El Niño periods. • Recent literatures (since 2002) • ENSO: Wang and Chan (2002, J. Climate), Elsner and Liu (2003, Climate Research), Camargo et al. (2004, AMS conference), Wu et al. (2004, J. Climate), Camargo and Sobel (2005, J. Climate), etc. • More factors: Chia and Ropelewski (2002, J. Climate), Chen et al. (2004, J. Climate), Ho et al. (2005, J. Geophysical Research), Kim et al. (2005, J. Climate), Xie et al. (2005, Geophysical Research Letters), etc. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

22. Interannual Variability – Western North Pacific • Sobel and Camargo (2005, J. Atmospheric Sciences) • Possibility of a two-way positive feedback between ENSO and TC activity ACE leads SST leads SST (5.5°N-5.5°S) Equatorial surface zonal wind (5.5°N-5.5°S) Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

23. Interannual Variability – Western North Pacific • Chen et al. (2004, Wea. Forecasting) • Approximately 70% of WNP TC/TD genesis/development is linked to the monsoon gyre. • The interannual variation of TC/TD genesis/development related to the monsoon gyre is highly correlated with that of the monsoon gyre activity (which is out of phase with that of the Nino-3 SSTs). Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

24. Interannual Variability – Western North Pacific • Ho et al. (2005, J. Geophysical Research) • Cross-equatorial influence from the Southern Hemisphere (i.e., AAO) is comparable to that of ENSO. Main region of influence is different. • Magnitude of composite difference of TC activity over the East China Sea toward west Japan with respect to the AAO phase is much larger than that related to ENSO phase. • However, they didn’t consider the coupled variability. El Niño minus La Niña Normal ENSO conditions only TC passage numbers (#/year) Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

25. Interannual Variability – Western North Pacific • Kim et al. (2005, J. Climate) • Over the midlatitude East Asia, dominant interannual variability here is the dipole oscillation between south of Korea and southeast of Japan. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

26. Interannual Variability – Western North Pacific • Xie et al. (2005, Geophysical Research Letters) • The annual frequency of WNP typhoons and the number of landfall in China are negatively correlated with the Tibetan Plateau snow cover during the preceding winter and spring. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

27. Interannual Variability – Eastern and Central North Pacific • ENP • Elsner and Kara (1999) • TC activity in the ENP tends to be opposite to that in the NA. • Irwin and Davis (1999, Geophysical Research Letters), Kimberlain (1999, preprints) • During El Niño years, changes in the warm SST regions lead to the westward shift in the genesis location of TCs in the ENP, resulting in the propagation of TCs father west into the central Pacific. Also, the lifetimes are longer during El Niño years relative to La Niña years. • Collins and Mason (2000, Geophysical Research Letters) • pointed out the need to study the ENP by subregions because environmental parameters affecting TC activity are different east and west of 116°W. • CNP • Chu and Wang (1997, J. Climate), Chu (2005) • The vertical shear decreases over the tropical CNP during El Niño years, providing favorable conditions for TC development. • In the non-El Niño years, most TCs follow a westward or northwestward track. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

28. Interannual Variability – Australia and South Pacific • TC activity in the Australian region is higher during La Niña years and below normal average during El Niño years. • Nicholls (1979, Monthly Weather Review) • The ENSO-TC relation is obtained from a strong correlation between the sea level pressure at Darwin, Australia, and TC days around the Australian region. • Evans and Allan (1992, International J. Climatology) • TC frequency near the date line increases during El Niño years. TC tracks in the tropical southwestern Pacific (west of the date line) became more zonal during El Niño years. In contrast, TCs tracked close to the coase of Queensland, Australia, and persisted southward with enhanced risk for coastal crossings during La Niña years. • Basher and Zheng (1995, J. Climate) • The incidence of TCs in the Coral Sea (west of 170°E) is influenced by local SST and east of 170°E the dominant control is not local SST but the eastward extent of ENSO-dependent atmospheric conditions (i.e., the monsoon trough). Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

29. Interannual Variability – South Indian Ocean • Jury (1993, Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.) • The frequency of TC genesis in the Southwest IO increases during the east phase of QBO, but the impact of ENSO is not significant because of increased upper westerly shear, in spite of convection being enhanced during El Niño summers. • Jury et al. (1999, J. Climate) • The QBO is in phase with ENSO approximately every 4 years with the QBO leading every 4 months. The QBO periodically exerts a similar influence on the TC activity in the Southwest IO. • Kuleshov and de Hoedt (2003, Bull.Aust. Meteorol. Ocean. Soc.) • TC numbers are increased between 85°E and 105°E during La Niña years compared to El Niño years. • Ho et al. (2006, J. Geophysical Research) • During El Niño periods, TC genesis shifts westward, enhancing the TC formation west of 75°E and reducing east of 75°E. • TC passages show a significant decrease in the southeast of Madagascar but a moderate increase in the central midlatitude South IO, indicating TCs move farther east during El Niño years. Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales

30. Recommendations • We need more understandings about the coupled variability between the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere annular modes, ENSO and the MJO, and the variability related to the QBO. • What is the coupled impact of the MJO and ENSO on TC activity? (Kim et al., in revision) • Why does the QBO influence on NA hurricane activity weaken recent decades? • Consideration of the annular modes and ENSO together may improve the skill of seasonal prediction of genesis, track, and landfall. • Although ENSO is dominant factor on the interannual variability of basinwide-scale TC activity, its impact is variable by sub-basin regions. • Need to verify the new hypothesis on the relationship, ENSO-TC, TPSC-TC. • DEQ-PC hypothesis (Tang and Neelin 2004) • Two-way interaction between TC and ENSO (Sobel and Camargo 2005) • Role of Tibetan Plateau on TC activity (Xie et al. 2005) Topic 4.1. Intraseasonal to Interannual Timescales