The Typhoons of October 1970 in the South China Sea: Intensification, Decay and Ocean Interaction

Abstract

In October 1970 the South China Sea experienced three typhoons. Meteorological and oceanographic data were examined in an attempt to explain why the typhoons underwent intensity changes while over the South China Sea. The clearest relationship was found with troughs in the upper tropospheric westerlies—intensification accompanied development of a middle and high cloud plume streaming northeastward from the storm area.