Surface Wind Speed-SST Relationship During the Passage of Typhoons Over the South China Sea

Abstract

The present study investigates the relationship of sea surface temperature (SST) and surface wind speed changes in the South China Sea (SCS) region during the passage of typhoons for May-October of 2000-2010. Analysis shows that the SST drop in a 2° × 2° box during the passage of typhoons is about 1-3°C in two days around the time of maximum surface wind speed for most of the SCS typhoon cases. The typhoon-induced SST cooling displays a tendency of increase with surface wind speed. There is no clear statistical relationship between the SST cooling and the surface wind weakening during the analysis period. The relative location of the cold SST patch and the low surface wind region varies from case to case and from time to time. The present result does not support the previously proposed SST cooling impact on the surface wind speed based on case studies.