Upper ocean warming and tropical cyclones

Vertical mixing in the ocean upper layer is strongly affected by intense winds. In turns, upper ocean heat content affects the evolution of tropical cyclones. We present results from a modeling study of the possible feedback between upper ocean heat content and hurricanes. The model indicates that for given atmospheric thermodynamical conditions, regimes characterized by intense (with deep mixing and large upper ocean heat content) and by weak (with shallow mixing and small heat content) tropical cyclone activity can be sustained. The feedback also amplifies the sensitivity of modeled cyclone power dissipation to atmospheric thermodynamic conditions. Observational data are discussed in light of the described interaction.