Weihao et al. (2026) Unusual tropical cyclone looping tracks associated with monsoon gyre near an isolated high mountain

Identification

• Journal: Atmospheric Research
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-08
• Authors: Wang Weihao, Xuyang Ge, Melinda S. Peng
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108761

Research Groups

• School of Marine Technology and Geomatics, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
• Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster of Ministry of Education, Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change, Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States of America

Short Summary

This study investigates the processes behind tropical cyclone (TC) looping tracks near isolated high mountains using numerical simulations and comparisons with observed TCs. It reveals that the interaction among a TC, a monsoon gyre (MG), and topography is crucial for inducing these unusual looping tracks.

Objective

• To investigate the processes leading to Tropical Cyclone (TC) looping tracks (LTs) near an isolated terrain.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale, focusing on the interaction zone around an isolated high mountain (e.g., Taiwan Island's Central Mountain Range, approximately 120 km wide, 300 km long, reaching 4000 m in height), with TCs approaching within 200 km.
• Temporal Scale: Event-based, covering the dynamic evolution of tropical cyclones over several days, including comparison of observed TC cases and idealized simulation periods.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Numerical simulations (idealized).
• Data sources: Large-scale environmental fields of observed tropical cyclones (for comparison).

Main Results

• Tropical cyclone (TC) looping track (LT) cases are characterized by a monsoon gyre (MG)-like circulation on the southeast side of the TC, a feature absent in non-looping cases.
• Idealized simulations demonstrate that when a TC approaches topography from the east, the channeling effect enhances northerly flow, steering the TC southward.
• The topography blocks the MG, preventing its merger with the TC and leading to a separation between their centers.
• Subsequently, westerly flow from the southern flank of the MG steers the TC, and the eventual merger of the MG and TC circulation completes the looping track.
• In the absence of either an MG or topography, TCs only exhibit simple southward or northward deflections, not looping tracks.

Contributions

• Provides a novel understanding of the complex interactions among tropical cyclones, monsoon gyres, and topography as a mechanism for inducing unusual tropical cyclone looping tracks.
• Offers dynamical explanations for the formation of these specific looping tracks, highlighting the critical role of the monsoon gyre and its interaction with terrain.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Weihao2026Unusual,
  author = {Weihao, Wang and Ge, Xuyang and Peng, Melinda S.},
  title = {Unusual tropical cyclone looping tracks associated with monsoon gyre near an isolated high mountain},
  journal = {Atmospheric Research},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108761},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108761}
}