Comparison of Controlling Parameters for Near-Equatorial Tropical Cyclone Formation between Western North Pacific and North Atlantic

In this study, the differences in spatial distribution and controlling parameters for the formation of near-equatorial tropical cyclones (NETCs) between the western North Pacific (WNP) and the North Atlantic (NA) are investigated. NETCs exhibit distinctive spatial variabilities in different basins. Over the past few decades, the majority of NETCs took place in WNP while none was observed in NA. The mechanism behind such a distinguishing spatial distribution difference is analyzed by using statistical methods. It is noted that the dynamical variables such as low-level relative vorticity and vertical wind shear (VWS) are likely the primary controlling parameters. Compared with NA, larger low-level vorticity and smaller VWS appear over WNP. The increase of vorticity attributes a lot to the turning of northeast trade wind. NETCs in WNP tend to occur in the areas with VWS less than 9 m s −1 , while the VWS in NA generally exceeds 10 m s −1 . On the other hand, the sea surface temperature in the near-equatorial region of both of the two oceans exceeds 26.5°C and the difference of mid-level moisture is not significant; thus, thermal factors have little contribution to the distinction of NETC activities between WNP and NA. Intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) and synoptic-scale disturbances in WNP are also shown to be more favorable for NETC genesis. More NETCs were generated in ISO active phase. Synoptic-scale disturbances in WNP obtain more energy from the mean flows through the barotropic energy conversion process. The overall unfavorable thermal and dynamic conditions lead to the absence of NETCs in NA.