SOME ASPECTS ON SENSITIVITY OF TYPHOON INTENSITY TO SEA-SURFACE TEMPERATURE

Statistical analysis was made to test the relationship between typhoon intensity and sea-surface temperature (SST). The 10-day mean values o f SST on 1 degrees latitude-longitude grid with unit of 0.1 degrees C were used. It was shown that intensity percentile of tropical cyclones computed at every 0.5 degrees C bin of SST varies as a function of SS T. Relative intensity of a storm is defined with reference to the maxi mum intensity of a storm. For tropical storms locating over waters war mer than 28.5 degrees C at an observation time, it was shown that stor ms of higher relative intensity have been over wamer waters for a day or two prior to the observation time than those of lower relative inte nsity. It was also shown that falling rate of central pressure is depe ndent on SST. Higher SST allows more rapid falling of central pressure .