Synoptic Flow Patterns and Large-scale Characteristics associated with Rapidly Intensifying Tropical Cyclones in South China Sea

The typical synoptic flow patterns and environmental factors that favor the rapid intensification (RI) of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the South China Sea (SCS) have been identified based on all TCs formed in the SCS between 1981 and 2011. RI is defined as the 24-h increase in maximum sustained surface wind speed by 15 m s-1 as in previous studies, which is close to the 95th percentile of 24-h intensity change of all SCS samples excluding those after landfall. There are 4.9% (2.3%) of tropical depressions (tropical storms) experienced RI. No typhoons satisfied the RI threshold.

Eight low-level synoptic flow patterns favoring RI have been identified based on 18 RI cases. In the monsoon season very few TCs experience RI due to large vertical wind shear (VWS). Most RI cases occurred in the post-monsoon season when the mid-latitude troughs often penetrated into the SCS whereas the southwesterly monsoon flow is still strong in the southern SCS. Compared with those of non-RI cases, the mean initial conditions of RI cases include weak VWS and relatively strong forcing from mid-latitude troughs. Several criteria of significant environmental factors for RI are statistically identified based on all TC samples. It is found that 17 non-RI TCs fitted in the RI flow patterns but only two of them satisfy all the criteria, suggesting that a combination of the synoptic flow pattern and the environmental factors can be used to predict RI in the SCS. In addition, two RI cases involving TC-trough interaction are analyzed.