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Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Characteristics of Binary Tropical Cyclones Observed in the Western North Pacific for 62 Years (1951–2012)

Wook Jang Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea

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Hye-Yeong Chun Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea

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Print Publication:
01 May 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-14-00331.1
Page(s):
1749–1761
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Abstract

The statistical and dynamical characteristics of binary tropical cyclones (TCs) observed in the western North Pacific (WNP) for 62 years (1951–2012) are investigated by using best track and reanalysis data. A total of 98 binary TCs occurred with an annual average of 1.58. The occurrence frequency of binary TCs shows significant year-to-year variations and there are two peaks in the mid-1960s and early 1990s. Three-fourths (76.3%) of the binary TCs occurred between July and September, which is consistent with the high activity season of TCs in general. A relatively higher track density for binary TCs is present to the east of the maximum track density for total TCs. This result is likely due to the differences in the locations of genesis and environmental steering flow between binary and total TCs. The poleward steering flow, weaker vertical wind shear, and warmer sea surface temperature are pronounced for binary TCs, and these result in a longer lifetime of TCs, which can increase the chances that they would be detected as binary TCs. By applying the clustering analysis technique, six representative trajectories of the binary TCs are obtained. The transitional speed and recurving location are significantly different with respect to the clustered types. The trajectories of each type are strongly related to the temporal variations in the environmental steering flow and the location of the North Pacific high.

Denotes Open Access content.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Hye-Yeong Chun, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Yonsei University, 262 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-ku, Seoul 120-749, South Korea. E-mail: chunhy@yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

The statistical and dynamical characteristics of binary tropical cyclones (TCs) observed in the western North Pacific (WNP) for 62 years (1951–2012) are investigated by using best track and reanalysis data. A total of 98 binary TCs occurred with an annual average of 1.58. The occurrence frequency of binary TCs shows significant year-to-year variations and there are two peaks in the mid-1960s and early 1990s. Three-fourths (76.3%) of the binary TCs occurred between July and September, which is consistent with the high activity season of TCs in general. A relatively higher track density for binary TCs is present to the east of the maximum track density for total TCs. This result is likely due to the differences in the locations of genesis and environmental steering flow between binary and total TCs. The poleward steering flow, weaker vertical wind shear, and warmer sea surface temperature are pronounced for binary TCs, and these result in a longer lifetime of TCs, which can increase the chances that they would be detected as binary TCs. By applying the clustering analysis technique, six representative trajectories of the binary TCs are obtained. The transitional speed and recurving location are significantly different with respect to the clustered types. The trajectories of each type are strongly related to the temporal variations in the environmental steering flow and the location of the North Pacific high.

Denotes Open Access content.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Hye-Yeong Chun, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Yonsei University, 262 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-ku, Seoul 120-749, South Korea. E-mail: chunhy@yonsei.ac.kr
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