A STUDY OF RAPID DECAY TYPHOONS IN OFFSHORE WATERS OF CHINA

Abstract:

On the basis of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and yearbooks of CMA tropical cyclones, statistical analysis is performed for 1949–C2013 offshore typhoons subjected to rapid decay (RD). This analysis indicates that RD typhoons are small-probability events, making up about 2.2% of the total offshore typhoons during this period. The RD events experience a decadal variation, mostly in the 1960s and 1970s (maximal in the 1970s), rapidly decrease in the 1980s and 1990s and quickly increase from 2000. Also, RD typhoons show remarkable seasonal differences: they arise mainly in April and July–CDecember, with the prime stage being in October–CNovember. The offshore RD typhoons occur mostly in the South China Sea (SCS) and to a lesser extent in the East China Sea (ECS); however, none are observed over the Huang Sea and Bo Sea.