Editorial: Special Issue on Tropical Cyclones

Meteorol Atmos Phys 97, 1 (2007) DOI 10.1007/s00703-006-0239-y Printed in The Netherlands # Springer-Verlag 2007

Editorial: Special Issue on Tropical Cyclones

This special issue of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics focuses on tropical cyclones, which also are commonly known as hurricanes or typhoons. The aim of the special issue is to present a range of articles that is broadly representative of the current state of knowledge in research and operations on tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones are the most destructive weather systems on earth. Each year, tropical cyclones wreak havoc around the globe in terms of loss of human life and economic impact, either as a direct result of the flooding and devastating winds produced by these storms, or from the mudslides, storm surges, wind waves and coastal erosion associated with the passage of tropical cyclones. As the population of those areas most exposed to tropical cyclones is growing at a rapid rate in both developed and developing countries, the need is paramount for an increased understanding of the nature of tropical cyclones and an enhanced ability to predict their motion and intensity. The articles in this special issue cover 6 main areas. One group of papers deals with observational and forecasting aspects of tropical cyclones, including the increase in forecast skill possible with an improved specification of the initial state. A second group of articles presents recent results from studies that are either carried out by operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) models or have implications for the transition from research to operations. Areas addressed include the performance of existing operational

models in track and intensity forecasts and the assessment of possible improvements that are attainable with improved resolution, enhanced data coverage and sophisticated data assimilation schemes. Third are several research reports on new models or improvements to existing NWP models. The improvements described are largely in the representation of microphysical cloud processes. A fourth set of papers exploits case studies of tropical cyclones that had unusual tracks, interactions with other weather systems, or were affected strongly by the environmental vertical wind shear. Fifth are two papers that address variability and uncertainty in tropical cyclone prediction. These articles are at the extreme time scales of prediction; one article examines patterns of interdecadal variability of tropical cyclones in a coupled climate model under present and future climate conditions; the other attempts to quantify uncertainty in the short-term prediction of individual tropical cyclones. Sixth is a range of issues addressed by studies of landfalling tropical cyclones, including the distribution of convection within a tropical cyclone and tornadic outbreaks generated by tropical cyclones making landfall in the United States. Lance M. Leslie (Special editor) David J. Karoly, Mark Leplastrier, Lixin Qi (Co-editors)