Tropical cyclone projections: changing climate threats for Pacific island defense installations

Widlansky, M. J., Annamalai, H., Gingerich, S. B., Storlazzi, C. D., Marra, J. J., Hodges, K. I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0894-229X, Choy, B. and Kitoh, A. (2019) Tropical cyclone projections: changing climate threats for Pacific island defense installations. Weather, Climate, and Society, 11 (1). pp. 3-15. ISSN 1948-8327 doi: 10.1175/WCAS-D-17-0112.1

Abstract/Summary

Potential changing climate threats in the tropical and subtropical North Pacific Ocean were assessed, using coupled ocean-atmosphere and atmosphere-only general circulation models, to explore their response to projected increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Tropical cyclone occurrence, described by frequency and intensity, near islands housing major U.S. defense installations was the primary focus. Four island regions-Guam and Kwajalein Atoll in the tropical northwestern Pacific, Okinawa in the subtropical northwestern Pacific, and Oahu in the tropical north-central Pacific-were considered, as they provide unique climate and geographical characteristics that either enhance or reduce the tropical cyclone risk. Guam experiences the most frequent and severe tropical cyclones, which often originate as weak systems close to the equator near Kwajalein and sometimes track far enough north to affect Okinawa, whereas intense storms are the least frequent around Oahu. From assessments of models that simulate well the tropical Pacific climate, it was determined that, with a projected warming climate, the number of tropical cyclones is likely to decrease for Guam and Kwajalein but remain about the same near Okinawa and Oahu; however, the maximum intensity of the strongest storms may increase in most regions. The likelihood of fewer but stronger storms will necessitate new localized assessments of the risk and vulnerabilities to tropical cyclones in the North Pacific.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/80182
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	American Meteorological Society
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