Variations of latent heat flux during tropical cyclones over the S outh C hina S ea

Latent heat flux exchanges at the air–sea interface play important roles in the formation and development of tropical cyclones ( TCs ). Usually, the latent heat flux transferred from oceans to atmosphere increases during the intensification stages of the TCs . However, through analysing a number of TC cases over the S outh C hina S ea, it is found that the changes of latent heat flux exhibit different behaviours during the intensification stage of the TCs , depending upon their travelling pathways. The air–sea latent heat flux increases while the TCs are intensifying in open sea areas of the S outh C hina S ea. However, the latent heat flux decreases while the TCs are travelling over the narrow area between the I ndo‐ C hina P eninsula and H ainan I sland, even though the TCs are in their intensification stage. For the latter case, the decrease in latent heat flux F is accompanied by the decrease in surface winds due to the terrain frictions even though the upper troposphere winds are still increasing. Copyright © 2013 Royal Meteorological Society