Importance of Ocean Heat Content for Cyclone Studies

Timely and accurate prediction of the cyclone life cycle from genesis to dissipation is a challenging scientific problem. Though solutions from numerical models have resolved many complex physical processes responsible for cyclone formation, development and dissipation, many issues are to be unfolded. Thus, in addition to improving the understanding of the physics of the problem, critical examination of input parameters that are used in the numerical models is also important. 

Along with a number of atmospheric parameters, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) is the only oceanographic parameter used in the models for cyclone prediction. However, cyclones interact with the upper layer of the ocean rather with the sea surface skin temperature represented by SST alone. A number of studies have shown a relationship between the thermal structure of the ocean and cyclone intensity (CI). For example, using a coupled ocean-atmospheric model, Mao et al. conclude that the rate of intensification and final CI are sensitive to the initial spatial distribution of the mixed layer rather than to SST alone. Read more>>>>>>>>>>