On the recent hiatus of tropical cyclones landfalling in NSW, Australia
J. L. Gray A B D , D. C. Verdon-Kidd B , J. Callaghan C and N. B. English A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia.
B School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia.
C Retired. Formerly of Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland Office, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: j.gray2@cqu.edu.au
Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science 70(1) 180-192 https://doi.org/10.1071/ES19034
Submitted: 5 November 2019 Accepted: 27 March 2020 Published: 2 September 2020
Journal Compilation © BoM 2020 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
It is well known that severe storms result in some of the costliest natural disasters for New South Wales (NSW), Australia. However, it is not widely acknowledged that some of these events are, in fact, a result of landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs). Indeed, the intense focus of TC research within the tropics generally disregards landfalling TC events in the mid-latitude regions of Australia. This is likely due to the perceived infrequency of these events compared to other more susceptible regions. Therefore, in this study, we review this assumption by developing a 150-year record of TC activity, based on a range of digitised and analogue historical datasets and identify 30 individual landfalling TCs that have impacted NSW. Periods of enhanced and reduced TC activity are observed, with a defined hiatus (absence of landfalling TCs) after approximately 1980. The recent decrease in TC activity is subsequently linked to an increase in El Niño activity and warming of north-west Australian sea-surface temperatures during this time. Importantly, it is possible that a return to enhanced TC activity could occur again in the future if the Pacific conditions align. We also propose that pre-instrumental data on TC activity need to be developed to appropriately quantify TC risk for the study region via the development of local palaeoclimate archives. This study provides a significant contribution to understanding the risks of NSW landfalling TCs and expands upon our knowledge of environmental conditions that influence landfalling TCs in NSW.
Keywords: Australia, El Niño, hiatus, Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), La Niña, landfall, New South Wales, palaeoclimate, Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), tropical cyclones (TCs).
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