The SST Gradient between the Southwestern Pacific and the Western Pacific Warm Pool: A New Factor Controlling the Northwestern Pacific Tropical Cyclone Genesis Frequency

Abstract

he sea surface temperature gradient (SSTG) between the southwestern Pacific Ocean (40°?20°S, 160°E?170°W) and the western Pacific warm pool (0°?16°N, 125°?165°E) in boreal spring has been identified as a new factor that controls the interannual variability of tropical cyclone (TC) frequency over the western North Pacific Ocean (WNP). This SSTG can explain 53% of the total variance of the WNP TC genesis frequency during the typhoon season for the period 1980?2011. The positive SSTG anomaly produces an anomalous cross-equatorial pressure gradient and thus anomalies in low-level southward cross-equatorial flow and tropical easterlies over the central-western Pacific. The anomalous easterlies further produce local equatorial upwelling and seasonal cooling in the central Pacific, which in turn maintains the easterly anomalies throughout the typhoon season. These dynamical/thermodynamical effects induced by the positive SSTG anomaly lead to a reduced low-level cyclonic shear, increased vertical wind shear, and weakened monsoon trough over the WNP, greatly suppressing WNP TC genesis during the typhoon season. This implies that the spring SSTG could be a good predictor for WNP TC genesis frequency.