Global drifter data reveal that tropical cyclone-induced sea surface cooling in storm-affected areas is far weaker than indicated by estimates from microwave satellites and state-of-the-art climate models. Despite enhanced self-induced cooling driven by greenhouse warming, tropical cyclones are fuelled by a sea surface warming trend that is about twice the tropical mean warming.
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This is a summary of: Guan, S. et al. Weak self-induced cooling of tropical cyclones amid fast sea surface warming. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01879-x (2026).
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Cyclone-induced cooling is weaker than suggested by previous estimates. Nat. Geosci. 19, 133–134 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01900-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01900-3
