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Global Analysis of Tropical Cyclone Trajectories and Their Geographical Influences

tropical cyclone

Session 6 - Tropical Cyclone-Ocean Interactions: From Weather to Climate Scales

Tropical cyclones, formidable natural disasters, pose severe threats upon landfall, unleashing hazards like extreme winds, torrential rain, and storm surges, as well as secondary catastrophes such as landslides and mudflows. Their study is imperative. These cyclones undergo life cycles characterized by phases of intensification and decay, which are linked to their intensity. Globally, they are distributed across the Northwest Pacific (WP), East Pacific (EP), South Pacific (SP), North Atlantic (NA), and South Atlantic (SA), with the latter having an insufficient data set for analysis between 1993 and 2021 due to the genesis of only one cyclone. During intensification, cyclones average at 20° latitude, while during decay, they are typically found at 25° latitude. The higher terminal latitudes in the WP and NA may be temperature-zone-related, as most global endpoints of cyclone tracks fall within the 24°C-26°C isotherm range. Pronounced western boundary currents in these regions influence isotherm curvature towards the poles. In contrast, the North Indian Ocean sees the lowest terminal latitudes for cyclone tracks, mainly due to the obstructive Eurasian landmass to its north, underscoring the impact of geography on cyclone trajectories. This geographical analysis underscores the necessity for region-specific models to accurately predict and mitigate the impacts of tropical cyclones.