Changes of Tropical Cyclones Landfalling in China From 1979 to 2018

Abstract

China is one of the countries most severely affected by tropical cyclones (TCs) in the world, with an average of 9 TCs making landfall every year (Dong et al., 2015;Yin et al., 2010). Depending on the landfall intensity and locations, TCs have different destructive influences on coastal areas. An intense TC may bring strong winds, torrential rainfalls, and storm surges during its landfall, leading to severe losses in life and property (Li et al., 2017;Webster et al., 2005;Xiao & Xiao, 2010). The economic losses caused by landfalling TCs have shown a remarkable increase over the last few decades (Emanuel, 1986;Li et al., 2017;Xiao & Xiao, 2010). Therefore, analyzing the characteristics and long-term changes of TC activities will provide useful references for preventing and alleviating TC disasters.Many studies in recent years have explored how the TC activities changed and how the climatic factors affected them. An essential issue for TCs' variation is how the intensity changes. There is no consistent conclusion on the changes in TC intensity due to the data quality problem and observational capabilities (Knutson et al., 2019;Walsh et al., 2016). However, many studies agreed that the frequency of intense TC increased under climate change globally (

Increasing compound hazard of landfalling tropical cyclones in China during 1980–2020

“…The decreased number of landfalling intense TCs in Hainan Province (Figure 8) and the increased number in the other coastal provinces suggest a northward shift of TC track density in China. Recent studies also reported a northward shift in the locations of landfall or lifetime maximum intensity of the TCs in the western North Pacific during past decades (Chen et al, 2022; Li et al, 2022; Shan & Yu, 2021). Li et al (2022) further demonstrated that the locations of the lifetime maximum intensity of the landfalling TCs shifted closer to coastal areas from 1979 to 2018.…”

“…Recent studies also reported a northward shift in the locations of landfall or lifetime maximum intensity of the TCs in the western North Pacific during past decades (Chen et al, 2022; Li et al, 2022; Shan & Yu, 2021). Li et al (2022) further demonstrated that the locations of the lifetime maximum intensity of the landfalling TCs shifted closer to coastal areas from 1979 to 2018. This result implies that the TCs tend to make landfall at a greater intensity and survive longer after landfall, thereby exacerbating disaster risk, especially in the middle‐ and high‐latitude coastal areas where people may not be adequately prepared to prevent disasters.…”

“…Furthermore, activities of the landfalling TCs in China also display striking variability under climate change (Li et al, 2017; Yao et al, 2021). Previous studies suggested that the damaging potential of the TCs in China shows an increasing trend due to their increased mean duration and intensity at landfall (Li et al, 2022; Shan & Yu, 2021). Liu and Wang (2020) revealed a distinct spatial distribution of TC‐related precipitation, with a marked increasing trend in southeastern China but a decreasing trend in southern China.…”

The impact of monsoon on the landfalling tropical cyclone persistent precipitation in South China

“…This study explores the persistent precipitation characteristics induced by TCs landfall in South China, encompassing Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi Provinces, from 1979 to 2018. Due to the high position uncertainty for tropical depressions, tropical depressions are often excluded in landfalling TCs studies (Li et al 2022). On the other hand, TCs with very high intensity, such as severe typhoons and super typhoons making landfall in South China, are rare.…”