Impact of Vegetation Feedback on Tropical Cyclone Potential Intensity Under Climate Change

In recent years, the increased understanding of the interaction between vegetation and large-scale environmental factors has raised the possibility that tropical cyclone (TC) activity is also influenced directly or indirectly by vegetation feedback, but related research is insufficient until now. Our study aims to investigate the impact of vegetation feedback on TC intensity under future climate conditions. Understanding the vegetation-TC relationship is expected to enhance predictions of TC intensity in climate change. In our study, we found that the maximum potential intensity of TC over the western North Pacific showed higher values in models considering vegetation feedback compared to those that did not, especially in mid-latitudes. This difference was statistically significant and indicated the highest value under conditions of intensified climate change. According to our analysis, it appears that vegetation in eastern Siberia influenced the formation of negative geopotential height anomalies, which, in turn, led to an increase in sea surface temperature in the mid-latitudes through teleconnection. Ultimately, vegetation feedback can increase TC potential intensity, and this effect is further intensified by climate change. Our study suggests that vegetation feedback may impact atmospheric circulation. To explore the possible pathways and mechanisms, relevant variables were analyzed.