Editors’ Highlights are summaries of recent papers by AGU’s journal editors.
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
The impact of tropical cyclones on coastal cities is especially significant due to high population density in these urban areas, and the potential for infrastructure damage and loss of life. Hu et al. [2024] utilize high-resolution computer simulations to model the slow-moving Tropical Cyclone Victor, which originated in the South China Sea and made landfall in 1997 over the densely populated Hong Kong region.
The authors investigate two physical mechanisms to evaluate the city’s influence on pre- and post-landfall intensity: the three-dimensional structure of urban areas and the impact on airflow over cities, known as friction, as well as heat emissions from human activities. Their findings reveal that both mechanisms – heat and friction – contributed to a reduction in Victor’s pre- and post-landfall intensity. However, the findings relating to precipitation are more complex. The authors found that urban surface friction increases rainfall near the cyclone center, while heat from human activities increases rain in outer bands.
This work highlights the critical importance of investigating both the intensification and precipitation aspects of tropical cyclones. The authors provide a strong foundation for future studies to improve understanding of the complex interactions between tropical cyclones and other coastal urban environments across the globe.
Citation: Hu, C., Tam, C.-Y., Li, Z., Chen, J., Chow, T. N., Li, Y., et al. (2024). Impacts of urban heat and surface roughness on landfalling tropical cyclone intensity: A case study based on TC Victor (1997) in coastal South China. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 129, e2024JD040915. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JD040915
—Matei Georgescu, Associate Editor, JGR: Atmospheres