Climatological relationships among the tropical cyclone frequency, duration, intensity and activity regions over the Western Pacific

Abstract

Climatological relationships among the tropical cyclone (TC) frequency, duration, intensity and activity regions over the Western Pacific are explored based on long-term best track data. Frequent TC occurrence does not necessarily imply a long duration of TCs in the same periods. Three types of relationship between TC number and duration in the period 1945–2007 were identified in this study: low frequency and short duration during 1945–1955 (Period I); high frequency and short duration in the 1960s (Period II); and high frequency and long duration in the 1990s (Period III). TC activity regions differed among the three periods. During Period I, the main activity regions were over the ocean east of the Philippines (120°–140°E). During period II, two prevailing storm tracks extended west-northwest between 110° and 147°E. During period III, TCs had an extensive activity region from 110° to 160°E. TC intensity is related closely to activity regions. Most strong TCs developed over the ocean far from the Philippines, and had a northwestward track. Our results also show that the relationships between TC frequency, duration and their active regions are modulated strongly by broad-scale vertical motion, geopotential height and horizontal wind anomalies.