Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Geostrophic Velocity of the Western Boundary Current

Abstract

Tropical cyclones (TC), which are among the most destructive natural phenomena on Earth, have significant impacts on the western boundary current (WBC). We quantify the direct impact of TCs on the surface geostrophic velocity of the Kuroshio, the WBC in the western North Pacific, by analyzing satellite-derived geostrophic current data and using results from theoretical and numerical models. The study reveals that TCs decrease the surface geostrophic velocity by 14 cm s−1 which is 16% of the mean velocity of the Kuroshio (85 cm s−1), with the reduced velocity maintained for a month. The decrease in velocity of the Kuroshio is mainly (87%) due to the effect of TC-driven upwelling (“Cooling effect”), the effect of ocean heat uptake after the TC (“Warming effect”) being minor (13%); these are basically enabled by the strong thermal gradient around the Kuroshio. © 2021. The Authors.