Graphical Abstract

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Tauvale, L., and K. Tsuboki, 2019: Characteristics of tropical cyclones in the Southwest Pacific. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 97, 711-731.
https://doi.org/10.2151/jmsj.2019-042   Graphical Abstract with highlights

Plain Language Summary: In the Southwest Pacific, the annual number of tropical cyclones (TCs) and TC days decreased over the study period, while the numbers of stronger TCs slightly increased, and stronger TC days increased. The highest annual lifetime-maximum intensity and average annual lifetime-maximum intensity also increased. Small trends were found in genesis latitude, V_max latitude, highest intensification rate, accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), and power dissipation index (PDI) suggesting that the Southwest Pacific region is likely to remain most vulnerable to such TC impacts at irregular interannual periods.

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Highlights:

• TC activity in the Southwest Pacific are somewhat consistent with theoretical expectations of the change in TC activity under climate change, particularly in TC overall frequency and highest annual lifetime-maximum TC intensity.
• The latitudes of both TC genesis and V_max remained almost unchanged over the 1970. 2017 study period, which suggests little shift in the dominant areas affected by TCs.
• The Sea Surface Temperature (SST) may contribute to the uppermost TC intensity and fewer TC days.