A study using global climate models and meteorological observations finds that tropical cyclones, long studied for their influence on precipitation and flooding, can also create drying effects in other regions--such as a dry season over the archipelagos of Southeast Asia, also called the Maritime Continent--that is correlated with an active tropical cyclone season and reduction of westward water flow into the archipelagos' atmosphere driven by cyclone circulation; consequently, forecasting tropical cyclone activity can help improve forecasts of processes tied to the Maritime Continent circulation.
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Article #19-15364: "The typhoon-induced drying of the Maritime Continent," by Enrico Scoccimarro et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Enrico Scoccimarro, Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Bologna, ITALY; e-mail: < enrico.scoccimarro@cmcc.it >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences