Alison Wing has discovered new information on what determines variability in tropical cyclone intensity by evaluating a physical theory in every global ocean basin where the cyclones occur. Her work was published in the American Geophysical Union’s Geophysical Research Letters.

“Our research examines the correlation between interannual variability of potential intensity, which is the maximum possible intensity a tropical cyclone can reach or theoretical ‘speed limit’ of tropical cyclone intensity, and the actual intensity of tropical cyclones across all global ocean basins,” Wing said. This could help researchers interpret the tropical intensity theory.

• Allison Wing