Numerical Study of the Response of Typhoon Hato (2017) to Grouped Mesoscale Eddies in the Northern South China Sea

Abstract The influences of grouped anticyclonic eddies (AEs) in the ocean on the intensity of tropical cyclone (TC) in the atmosphere are investigated in the present study. The research was carried out using numerical methods taking the development of TC Hato (2017) in the northern South China Sea (SCS) as an example. Three AEs were observed, one at the TC track (defined as the inner area) and the other two in the south of the TC center (defined as the outer area), at about three times the radius of maximum wind speed. The results show that the outer AEs suppress TC development, but the inner AEs greatly favor TC development. This opposite influence primarily results from the different responses of TC secondary circulation to the AE‐induced local sea surface warm anomaly in the inner and outer areas. The outer AE triggers a low sea level pressure anomaly and convergent wind toward the AE, which weakens TC inflow at the lower layers and further weakens TC secondary circulation. Consequently, the energy conversion from ocean heat energy to TC kinetic energy is decreased by the weakened TC secondary circulation. The AE in the outer area also extends the TC eyewall, weakens the TC warm core, and increases the outer precipitation. As a result, the TC intensity is weakened. The inner AE causes opposite changes in TC secondary circulation, eyewall, warm core, and outer precipitation, so that favors TC development. These results provide evidence for the suppression effect of the outer AEs on TC development, providing a new perspective toward improving TC intensity forecasts.