Changes in tropical cyclone activity offset the ocean surface warming in northwest Pacific: 1981-2014

Abstract

Tropical cyclones (TCs) leave a cold wake in the sea surface temperature (SST). In the northwest Pacific, TC activity and SST have both increased since the 1980s, but the extent to which ocean surface warming is affected by the changing TC activity is unknown. Analysis of the 1981-2014 period indicates that the intensified effect of TC cold wakes has offset the SST warming trend by 37% during the typhoon season, implying that the observed SST warming might be underestimated. This factor could affect long-term climate simulations that are forced with prescribed SST.