Anthropogenic Air Pollutants Alter Environmental Conditions for Tropical Cyclone Genesis

Anthropogenic aerosols can modify the environmental conditions underpinning tropical cyclone (TC) formation, yet their integrated and species-specific impacts remain poorly constrained. Using state-of-the-art WRF-Chem simulations with updated anthropogenic emission inventories, we quantify how major aerosol species influence the Tropical Cyclone Genesis Potential Index (GPI) over the Northwest Pacific. Total aerosol loading reduces regional GPI by approximately 24% relative to a clean-air baseline, primarily through decreases in potential intensity, midtropospheric humidity, and vorticity, accompanied by strengthened vertical wind shear. These shifts alter TC characteristics, leading to shortened lifetimes, southward genesis shifts, weakened intensities, and decelerated translation speeds. Among individual species, anthropogenic sulfate and black carbon exert the strongest suppression, whereas natural aerosols exhibit weaker effects. These results reveal a coupled thermodynamic-dynamic pathway linking anthropogenic emissions to TC genesis conditions. Given the high vulnerability of densely populated Asian coastal regions to TC hazards, our findings highlight that emission controls may yield dual benefits, improving air quality while providing critical insights for strengthening regional climate resilience against evolving TC characteristics.