The Influence of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones on Drought over the Eastern United States (1980–2007)

• DOI: 10.1175/jcli-d-12-00244.1
• Publication Date: 2012-12-14T17:52:11Z
• Authors: Jonghun Kam; Justin Sheffield; Xing Yuan; Eric F. Wood
• Keywords: Atlantic hurricane

Abstract To assess the influence of Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) on eastern U.S. drought regime, Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) land surface hydrologic model was run over United States forced by North American Land Data Assimilation System phase 2 (NLDAS-2) analysis with and without TC-related precipitation for period 1980–2007. A defined in terms soil moisture as a prolonged below percentile threshold. Different duration droughts were analyzed—short term (longer than 30 days) long 90 days)—as well different severities corresponding to 10th, 15th, 20th percentiles depth. With TCs, are shorter lesser spatial extent. Tropical variously impact via late initiation, weakened intensity, early recovery. At regional scales, TCs decreased average moderately severe short-term long-term less 4 (10% per year) more 5 (15%) days yr−1, respectively. Also, they removed at least two one events 50% study region. Despite damage inflicted directly play crucial role alleviation removal some years seasons, important implications water resources agriculture.