Relationship between SST in the equatorial Eastern Pacific and TC frequency that affects Korea

Abstract

This study analyzed that there was a strong negative correlation between sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial Eastern Pacific and tropical cyclone (TC) frequency that affects Korea in summer season in 1951 to 2012. Then, 12 years that had the highest region-averaged SST values in the equatorial Eastern Pacific (warm SST years) and 12 years that had the lowest SST values (cold SST years) were selected, followed by analyzing average difference between two groups to identify any causes of possible correlation between SST in the equatorial Eastern Pacific and TC frequency. In the warm SST years, not only TC frequency that affected Korea but also TC genesis frequency was low, as well as TC intensity. A difference of 500 and 850 hPa streamlines between two groups showed that anomalous northwesterlies were strengthened in Korea due to anomalous cyclonic circulations developed in the mid-latitude region in East Asia, so that such anomalous steering flows played a role in preventing TCs from moving to Korea. Furthermore, anomalous anticyclonic circulations were strengthened in the east of Taiwan, which was related to weakening of the monsoon trough, thereby causing lowering TC genesis frequency in the warm SST years. In addition, as anomalous cyclonic circulations were strengthened in the southeast quadrant of the tropical and subtropical western North Pacific, it created high TC genesis frequency in the sea in the warm SST years. Low TC frequency, low TC genesis frequency, and low TC intensity that affected Korea in the warm SST years were clearly seen by the analysis of differences between two groups with respect to 500 and 850 hPa air temperature, 600 hPa relative humidity, precipitable water, 200–850 hPa vertical wind shear, and sea surface temperature.