Low probability of tropical cyclones on ocean planets in the habitable zones of M dwarfs

摘要

Highlights?Genesis potential of tropical cyclones (TC) on ocean planets is lower than in TC basins on the Earth.?The main reason is the much smaller rotation rate of the tidally locked habitable zone planets.?Our analysis suggests that the wind speed of potential TC on planets with eccentric orbits could be similar to that on Earth but future study is needed to confirm it.AbstractThe genesis potential index (GPI) of tropical cyclones (TC) on ocean planets in the habitable zones of M dwarfs is analyzed based on 3D GCM simulations. We found that GPI on these planets are smaller than those in TC basins on the Earth mainly because of slow rotation of such planets. GPI's on exoplanets with eccentric orbits are strong function of time with values generally greater than those on circular orbits. Future high resolution models are needed to better understand whether TCs could form on ocean exoplanets, and what their potential intensities and distributions might be.