We are pleased to highlight a groundbreaking climate study co-authored by our member, Prof. Ni Yi-Qing, Chair Professor of CEE, and Dr. E Deng, CEE Research Fellow, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.
The study, titled “Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Extends Inland,” reveals that heavy rainfall from tropical cyclones has been extending further inland globally. Along the continental coasts of the Northern Hemisphere, this landward reach has increased at an estimated rate of 3.8 km per decade, bringing severe storm impacts to inland regions historically considered less vulnerable to coastal weather.
Through satellite observations and climate modeling, the research team identified nearshore sea-surface warming and rapid coastal urbanization as the key drivers behind this shift. Ocean warming increases atmospheric moisture, while expanding urban areas increase surface roughness. This physical friction forces moist air upward, creating a dynamical effect that intensifies heavy rainfall over inland areas.
This trend significantly escalates flood risks, exposing an additional 2.6 million people per decade to inland flooding in the Western North Pacific alone. By demonstrating that tropical cyclone threats are moving deeper inland, this research offers critical, data-driven insights for policymakers and urban planners to design climate-resilient infrastructure in expanding inland zones.
Read the full paper in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70647-1
