I. Simmonds et K. Keay, Mean Southern Hemisphere extratropical cyclone behavior in the 40-year NCEP-NCAR reanalysis, J CLIMATE, 13(5), 2000, pp. 873-885
This paper presents a new climatology of Southern Hemisphere (SH) extratrop
ical cyclones. This has been compiled by applying a state-of-the-art cyclon
e tracking scheme to the 6-hourly National Centers for Environmental Predic
tion-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) global reanalyses
spanning the period 1958-97. The results show there to be, on average, bet
ween 35 and 38 cyclonic systems per analysis (depending on season), with th
e greatest density [exceeding 6 X 10(-3) cyclones (deg lat)(-2)] found sout
h of 60 degrees S in all seasons and in the Indian and west Pacific Oceans
in autumn and winter. For the most part, there is a net creation of cyclone
s (i.e., cyclogenesis exceeds cyclolysis) north of about 50 degrees S, and
a net destruction to the south of this latitude. Having said this, the most
active cyclogenesis takes place south of 45 degrees S. The NCEP-NCAR reana
lyses indicate that most SH cyclogenesis occurs at very high latitudes, and
the axis of the maximum lies on, or to the south of, 60 degrees S. This is
in agreement with the deductions of many modern studies of SH cyclone beha
vior. The region is also host to even greater levels of cyclolytic activity
.
The authors consider measures of the importance and influence (e.g., for ed
dy fluxes) of cyclonic systems. It is suggested that the "depth" of a syste
m (the pressure difference between the center and the "edge" of a cyclone)
is relatively bias-free and useful measure of a cyclone's status and effect
on the circulation. The greatest climatological depths are seen to lie at
about 60 degrees S, well to the north of the circumpolar trough and of the
region of greatest cyclone density. The mean lifetime of cyclones that last
at least 1 day is just over 3 days. Those that are located between 50 degr
ees and 70 degrees S (at their half-lifetime) endure, on average, almost on
e day longer than all other systems. The mean track length of winter system
s is 2315 km, which reduces to 1946 km in summer.
The significance of the work presented here lies in a number of factors. Fi
rst, the climatology has been derived from 40 yr of analysis, a period long
er than any considered heretofore. Further, the (re)analyses used can be re
garded as one of the best representations of the global atmosphere. The ava
ilability of these analyses at 6-hourly intervals means that the uncertaint
ies with tracking of cyclones are greatly diminished. Finally, it has been
compiled using one of the most sophisticated and reliable automatic cyclone
finding and tracking schemes. This climatology of SH extratropical cyclone
s is arguably the most accurate and representative set yet assembled.