Analysis of Environmental Factors of TC Intensification: A Case Study of Three Continuous Super Typhoons in November 2006

Abstract

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are one of the natural disasters that draw significant damage to human society. This article aims to discover the potential environmental factors that lead to one of the most catastrophic tropical cyclone disasters ever recorded: the three continuous supertyphoon landfall in the Philippines in November 2006. The event is so unique because each year around 30 tropical cyclones are forming in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean Basin on average, but among which there were few precedent cases of 3 continuous Supertyphoons made their landfall one by one at the same location around a month, and environmental factors that drive such phenomenon require the combined interaction of many different environmental factors. Hence to discover these potential driving factors, the analysis will be conducted through discussing the observation in diversified aspects incorporating satellite data and previous researcher's idea. It is found out that in the oceanic aspect, both the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and the recovery effect from the salinity barrier can help sustain a relatively high sea surface temperature that energizes the development of the continuously occurred 3 STYs. On the other hand, the El Niño in 3CSTY's case, can increase both the intensity and the sustaining time of the TCs and shift the position of TCs southeastward. Considering the atmospheric conditions, it is revealed that the meso-scaled weather systems can affect TC’s development and generation location, and the CISK effect explains the role of low vertical wind shear plays in thermodynamic perspective.