Distinct effects of anthropogenic aerosols on tropical cyclones

• Published in: Nature climate change 2014-05, Vol.4 (5), p.368-373
• Main Authors: Wang, Yuan, Lee, Keun-Hee, Lin, Yun, Levy, Misti, Zhang, Renyi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 704/106/35/823; 704/106/35/824; Aerosols; Air pollution; Anthropogenic factors; Climate Change; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Climate prediction; Earth, ocean, space; Environment; Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Greenhouse gases; letter; Meteorology; Particles and aerosols; Particulate matter; Storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms; Tropical cyclones
• ISSN: 1758-678X; 1758-6798
• DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2144

Anthropogenic influence, due to greenhouse gases and aerosols, on the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones is not well known. In this study, aerosols are shown to delay development, weaken intensity and cause early dissipation of storms, but also to increase precipitation across an enlarged rainband. Long-term observations have revealed large amplitude fluctuations in the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones (TCs; refs  1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ), but the anthropogenic impacts, including greenhouse gases and particulate matter pollution 4 , 5 , remain to be elucidated. Here, we show distinct aerosol effects on the development of TCs: the coupled microphysical and radiative effects of anthropogenic aerosols result in delayed development, weakened intensity and early dissipation, but an enlarged rainband and increased precipitation under polluted conditions. Our results imply that anthropogenic aerosols probably exhibit an opposite effect to that of greenhouse gases, highlighting the necessity of incorporating a realistic microphysical–radiative interaction of aerosols for accurate forecasting and climatic prediction of TCs in atmospheric models.