Effect of Tropical Cyclone Intensity on the Relationship Between Hydrometeor Distribution and Rapid Intensification by GPM GMI

• Published in: Geophysical research letters 2024-08, Vol.51 (16), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Leng, Yuankang, Liu, Rui, Zhu, Peijun, Zhang, Honglei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cloud water; Clouds; Convective precipitation; Cyclones; Disasters; GPM; Hurricanes; hydrometeor content; Hydrometeors; Ice clouds; Moisture content; Precipitation; Precipitation types; rapid intensification; Satellite data; the western north Pacific; tropical cyclone; Tropical cyclone intensities; Tropical cyclones; Water content
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2024GL108942

This study analyzes hydrometeor evolution during rapid intensification (RI) and tropical cyclone (TC) intensity dependence using satellite data. Previous studies have suggested ice cloud water or non‐convective precipitation as a predictor of RI from different perspectives. However, few studies have focused on the impact of TC intensity or comprehensive comparisons to identify better indicators. During RI, hydrometeor contents in weak TCs increase over the entire region, whereas they increase mainly in the inner‐core region and decrease in advance in the outer‐core region for strong TCs. Hydrometeor contents in the inner‐core are higher in RI than in slow intensification, and their maxima location is related to TC intensity and intensification rate. Cloud water path (CWP) in the inner‐core region is most correlated with the intensification rate, especially in weak TCs. Therefore, the CWP can serve as a predictor of RI and can be applied to all TC intensities. Plain Language Summary Stronger tropical cyclones (TCs) often undergo rapid intensification (RI) and cause significant damage. However, accurately predicting its intensity is difficult. A close relationship exists between TC intensity changes and cloud content. Previous studies have shown a connection between the ice water content, precipitation, and RI of TCs. However, few studies have comprehensively compared the hydrometeors and precipitation associated with RI and the impact of TC intensity. During the RI, various cloud contents increase in the entire area of a weak TC, while they increase mainly in the inner‐core area and decrease in advance in the outer‐core area of a strong TC. The cloud contents in the inner‐core are higher in RI than in slow intensification, and their maximum locations are related to the TC intensity and intensification rate. Among the cloud content and precipitation types, the water cloud content in the TC inner‐core area is the best indicator of the intensification rate, applicable to all TC intensities, especially for weak TCs. Understanding the relationship between clouds and TC intensification facilitates prediction of TC intensity and reduces the impact of disasters. Key Points Hydrometeor contents increase in the entire area of a weak TC but mainly in the inner‐core of a strong TC during rapid intensification (RI) RI has higher inner‐core hydrometeor contents than slow cases, and the maxima location is linked to TC intensity and intensification rate The cloud water con