Interannual variability of the double easterly jets over the tropical western Pacific and their effects on tropical cyclone genesis

Abstract

AbstractDifferent from other upper‐tropospheric jet stream that owns the single jet axis, the tropical easterly jet (TEJ) generally splits into two branches over the tropical western Pacific where the TEJ inflows from June to September, with the north branch locating near 20°N and the south branch appearing near the equator. However, how these double easterly jets change from year to year and whether they have effects on the tropical cyclones (TCs) over the tropical western Pacific are still unknown. Observational evidence has demonstrated that the double easterly jets in the TEJ's inflow region exhibit an out‐of‐phase relationship in the interannual time scale and is significantly related to the TCs genesis. Corresponding to a stronger south branch and a weaker north branch, the accelerated (decelerated) easterly wind for the south (north) branch would induce a northerly (southerly) ageostrophic wind, thus triggering an upper‐tropospheric divergence between the double easterly jets. This divergence can further lead to anomalous ascending flows over the western North Pacific, which turns out to be the primary cause that increases the TCs number over there. The results highlight that the out‐of‐phase variation of the double easterly jets could dynamically modulate the occurrence of the TCs over the western North Pacific by inducing the secondary vertical circulation.