Significance Tests of the Differences Between Movements of Typhoons and Tropical Storms

Abstract

Nineteen years of northwest Pacific tropical cyclone movements are stratified for studying the relation between storm intensity and subsequent movement. The t-test was applied to determine whether the differences between tropical storm and typhoon movements are statistically significant. Nineteen per cent of the 102 tests showed a significant difference at the 10% level. This indicates that caution should be taken in combining movement data for typhoons and tropical storms in certain ocean areas.