Faster recovery of North Atlantic tropical cyclone-induced cold wakes in recent decades

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Intense winds associated with tropical cyclones (TCs) generate surface ocean cooling in their wakes, which can persist for several weeks in their aftermath. While multi-decadal observations of the sea surface have shown a substantial warming of the ocean, long-term changes in cold wake recovery time remain largely unknown. Here we find a trend toward faster recovery of TC cold wakes in the Atlantic main development region (MDR) since 2001. This is due primarily to a decrease in the strength of the North Atlantic trade winds, which reduces evaporative cooling of the ocean. The faster damping of TC cold wakes has led to a significant increase in the intensification of subsequent TCs that encounter lingering wakes from prior TCs, with a magnitude that is about 9% of that from long-term warming of the ocean. Finally, earth system model simulations indicate that the observed decrease in the cold wake recovery time will likely continue into the future.

Source: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science

DOI: 10.1038/s41612-025-01029-5

Authors: Effy B. John, Karthik Balaguru, L. Ruby Leung, Gregory R. Foltz, Samson M. Hagos

Institutions: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories

Language: English

Topic: Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,590

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, Battelle, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, Climate Extremes, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

OpenAlex ID: W4410477181