How Does Tropical Cyclone‐Induced Remote Moisture Transport Affect Precipitation Over East Asia

• Published in: Geophysical research letters 2024-11, Vol.51 (21), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Xiao, Shiqi, Zhang, Aoqi, Chen, Yilun, Chen, Shumin, Li, Weibiao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air currents; Atmospheric precipitations; Belt conveyors; Cluster analysis; Cyclones; Equator; Hurricanes; Identification methods; Moisture; Mountains; Precipitation; Precipitation formation; Rain; Rainfall intensity; Storms; Terrain; Tracks (paths); Tropical cyclones; Warm air; Water vapor; Water vapour; Weather forecasting; Weather patterns
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2024GL110285

Analyzing tropical cyclone‐induced remote moisture transport clusters (TRCs) and their effects on precipitation is crucial for understanding precipitation formation and enhancing forecast precision. Prior research, primarily case‐based, did not fully grasp the nature of TRCs. Utilizing an objective TRC identification method, we categorized 65 TRC tracks in East Asia into five types and examined their traits and precipitation links. The findings indicate that the moisture transport height of TRCs varies due to multiple factors, with higher transport linked to the warm conveyor belt and lower transport attributed to Taiwan’s mountain range influencing low‐level moisture. The precipitation peak altitudes of TRCs at higher latitudes are greater, and their precipitation intensity is positively correlated with terrain type, especially coastlines. This study underscores the diversity in TRC characteristics and related precipitation, suggesting that future research should consider the directionality of TRC tracks. Plain Language Summary Examining how water vapor is moved far away by large storms called tropical cyclones (TCs) helps us understand how rain is made and helps us better predict it. Earlier studies did not fully understand what these water vapor clusters, or TRCs, were. Therefore, we used a special method to find and sort TRCs. We identified 65 different paths of TRCs in East Asia and divided them into five different groups. We looked at what makes them different and how they are connected to rain. We discovered that the way that high TRCs move water vapor can change because of many factors. Sometimes, a weather pattern called the warm conveyor belt makes the vapor ascend higher. Other times, the mountains in Taiwan affect the lower part of the vapor. Additionally, TRCs in places that are farther from the equator cause increased amounts of rain, and the amount of rain is closely related to the type of terrain, and this phenomenon is especially prominent near coasts. This study shows that there are many different kinds of TRCs and ways that they affect rain. Future research should also look at the paths that TRCs take. Key Points TC‐induced remote moisture transport frequently occurs over the Yangtze Plain and eastern ocean TC‐induced remote moisture transport has five main kinds of tracks with different triggering mechanisms The orientations further affect precipitation through orographic effects and synoptic circulations