Tropical Cyclone Strength and Size

Besides intensity, strength and size are also important parameters to describe the dynamic structure of a tropical cyclone (TC). However, very few studies have been made on the latter two parameters mostly because of the lack of data. With the availability of over 10 years of ocean-surface winds derived from the QuikScat satellite, it should now be possible to perform a comprehensive study on TC strength and size for TCs in different ocean basins. This project will therefore attempt to:document the climatology of TC strength and size in all major ocean basins using satellite-derived winds;identify the synoptic conditions associated with different TC strengths and sizes in each of the ocean basins; andinvestigate the possible physical processes that lead to the different TC strengths and sizes.A metric using the information on strength and size to estimate the level of seasonal TC activity will also be developed. This will be the first comprehensive study on the problem of TC strength and size. The results of the project will therefore provide a much better and much needed understanding of the climatology of TC strength and size in various ocean basins, the synoptic conditions associated with different TC strengths and sizes, and the physics of TC strength and size changes. Such an understanding is important in developing techniques for predicting TC strength and size, which is of great significance for places like Hong Kong and the coastal regions of China that are frequently affected by TCs every year. Development of a new metric to measure seasonal TC activity will provide an additional and important contribution to the study of TC climate.