Author(s): Yuei-An Liou; Truong-Vinh Le
Linked Author(s): Yuei-An Liou
Keywords: Typhoon drought Taiwan hydrological patterns seasonal variations
Abstract: Inspired by the severe 2020–2021 drought, this study examines the connection between typhoon activity and drought severity in Taiwan. Using tropical cyclone best-track and satellite-based precipitation datasets from 1981 to 2020, we analyzed anomalies, correlation matrices, and wavelet coherence to uncover seasonal variations and long-term trends. Results reveal a dual relationship: typhoon characteristics near Taiwan, such as count, duration, length, and intensity, positively correlate with drought occurrence and severity over 2- to 4-year cycles, while typhoon duration and length in the broader Western North Pacific (WNP) exhibit negative correlations with Taiwan's drought indices due to large-scale atmospheric patterns. WNP typhoon duration and length significantly impact Taiwan’s droughts more than typhoon frequency, showing strong coherence with multi-year to decadal drought trends. These findings provide critical insights into the complex interplay between typhoon behavior and drought patterns, offering valuable implications for hydrological management and disaster preparedness in typhoon-prone regions.
Year: 2025