The impact of tropical cyclones on Hainan Island's extreme and total precipitation

Total and extreme precipitation in Hainan Island was investigated in this study, based on consistent meteorological data for the period 1962-2005. Results show that tropical cyclones mainly impact Hainan Island between June and November, during which time they account for more than one-third of the total precipitation. Over the past four decades, the number of TCs impacting Hainan Island has significantly decreased. Correspondingly, the TC precipitation and its contribution to the total precipitation have slightly reduced. Extreme rainfall events because of cyclones are responsible for nearly 60% of Hainan's overall 'daily extreme precipitation' and 23% of Hainan's total precipitation. Noticeably, the number of extreme heavy precipitation days and total amount of precipitation from those extreme events influenced by TCs has increased. On average, the precipitation amount and the number of days of extreme events caused by each cyclone have been Significantly increased. (C) 2007 Royal Meteorological Society