Impact of North America snow cover on tropical cyclogenesis over the western North Pacific

This study reveals a connection of summer-fall (JJASO) tropical cyclone (TC) genesis over the western North Pacific (WNP) to preceding boreal spring (MAM) North America snow cover (NASC). Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical central Pacific and subtropical eastern Pacific play a crucial role in relaying influence of the MAM NASC on the following JJASO WNP TC genesis frequency. The increased NASC leads to a decrease in upward sensible heat flux and the atmospheric cooling over the North America. The atmospheric cooling enhances the meridional thermal contrast and geopotential height gradient, which is favorable for the occurrence of lower-level westerly wind anomalies and positive precipitation anomalies over the tropical eastern Pacific. The lower-level northeasterly wind anomalies over the subtropical northeastern Pacific as a Gill-type atmospheric response to positive precipitation anomalies induce ocean surface cooling via the enhanced wind speed. A positive feedback between the northeasterly wind anomalies and negative SST anomalies leads to a westward extension of the easterly flows to the western Pacific. The easterly wind anomalies along with the negative specific humidity anomalies and negative lower-level vorticity anomalies, and enhanced vertical wind shear suppress the TC genesis over the WNP during JJASO.

Automated summary

This study reveals a connection between North America spring snow cover and summer-fall tropical cyclone genesis over the western North Pacific, mediated by sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical and subtropical Pacific. The increased snow cover leads to atmospheric cooling and changes in wind patterns, affecting the occurrence of tropical cyclones. Understanding these complex interactions is crucial for climate research.