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Global warming-induced upper-ocean freshening and the intensification of super typhoons

Author

Listed:
  • Karthik Balaguru

    (Marine Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Gregory R. Foltz

    (Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, NOAA)

  • L. Ruby Leung

    (Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Kerry A. Emanuel

    (Lorenz Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Super typhoons (STYs), intense tropical cyclones of the western North Pacific, rank among the most destructive natural hazards globally. The violent winds of these storms induce deep mixing of the upper ocean, resulting in strong sea surface cooling and making STYs highly sensitive to ocean density stratification. Although a few studies examined the potential impacts of changes in ocean thermal structure on future tropical cyclones, they did not take into account changes in near-surface salinity. Here, using a combination of observations and coupled climate model simulations, we show that freshening of the upper ocean, caused by greater rainfall in places where typhoons form, tends to intensify STYs by reducing their ability to cool the upper ocean. We further demonstrate that the strengthening effect of this freshening over the period 1961–2008 is ∼53% stronger than the suppressive effect of temperature, whereas under twenty-first century projections, the positive effect of salinity is about half of the negative effect of ocean temperature changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Karthik Balaguru & Gregory R. Foltz & L. Ruby Leung & Kerry A. Emanuel, 2016. "Global warming-induced upper-ocean freshening and the intensification of super typhoons," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13670
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13670
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    Cited by:

    1. Shuqi Wu & Shisong Cao & Zhiheng Wang & Xinyuan Qu & Shanfei Li & Wenji Zhao, 2019. "Spatiotemporal Variations in Agricultural Flooding in Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River from 1970 to 2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Kuhla, Kilian & Willner, Sven N & Otto, Christian & Levermann, Anders, 2023. "Resilience of international trade to typhoon-related supply disruptions," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Xuelu Cai & Mark Henderson & Ligang Wang & Yuanhang Su & Binhui Liu, 2021. "Shelterbelt Structure and Crop Protection from Increased Typhoon Activity in Northeast China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, October.

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