Cloud-Radiation Feedback Prevents Tropical Cyclones From Reaching Higher Intensities

Abstract

The prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) intensity remains a major scientific challenge. Recent studies indicate that cloud-radiation feedback (CRF) plays a positive role in the intensification of TCs during their genesis. However, little attention has been given to how CRF affects TC intensity after genesis. This study shows that CRF may prevents TCs from attaining higher maximum intensities. The ascending motion induced by the anomalous radiative heating of TC promotes more latent heating on the outer side of the upper eyewall, resulting in a more tilted eyewall. A more tilted eyewall leads to a larger inner-core size and less inward flux of absolute vertical vorticity within the inner core, thus preventing the TC from reaching higher intensity. This work highlights that CRF may affect TC intensity by modulating the structure of the inner-core convection, and further advances our understanding of the interaction between radiation effect and TC dynamics.