Algor Cards

Understanding Tropical Cyclones

Concept Map

Algorino

Edit available

Tropical cyclones, also called hurricanes or typhoons, are powerful storms that form over warm ocean waters and can cause widespread destruction. They require specific conditions to develop, such as warm sea temperatures and low wind shear. These storms play a crucial role in redistributing heat on Earth and can have significant environmental and societal impacts, especially in coastal regions. Understanding their formation, tracking, and predicting their paths are vital for preparedness and minimizing damage.

Understanding Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclones are intense circular storm systems that feature a low-pressure center, high winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms yielding heavy rainfall. Depending on their location and intensity, these storms are referred to as hurricanes, typhoons, or simply cyclones. In the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific, they are called hurricanes, while in the northwestern Pacific, they are known as typhoons. Elsewhere, including the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, the term "tropical cyclones" is used. On average, 80 to 90 tropical cyclones develop annually around the world, with more than half reaching hurricane-force winds of at least 65 knots. These storms are essential in the Earth's climate system, redistributing heat from the equatorial regions to higher latitudes.
Satellite view of a tropical cyclone with a spiral structure and a clear eye in the center, surrounded by dense cloud bands in shades of white and gray.

Formation and Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclones originate over warm ocean waters, drawing energy from the moisture that evaporates from the sea surface. This process is different from the formation of mid-latitude cyclones, which are driven by contrasts in atmospheric temperature. The size of tropical cyclones can vary widely, with diameters ranging from 100 to 2000 kilometers. Their rotation is influenced by the Earth's rotation through the Coriolis effect, which is why they do not form near the equator (typically within 5° latitude). Tropical cyclones are most powerful over warm waters and tend to dissipate quickly over land. Coastal areas are thus highly susceptible to the damaging effects of these storms, which can include destructive winds, torrential rains, high waves, storm surges, and occasionally tornadoes.

Show More

Want to create maps from your material?

Enter text, upload a photo, or audio to Algor. In a few seconds, Algorino will transform it into a conceptual map, summary, and much more!

Learn with Algor Education flashcards

Click on each card to learn more about the topic

00

Intense circular storm systems with a low-pressure center and high winds are known as ______ in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific.

hurricanes

01

The term 'tropical cyclones' is commonly used for these storms in the ______ Ocean and ______ Pacific.

Indian

South

02

Globally, about ______ to ______ tropical cyclones form each year, with over half becoming strong enough to be classified as hurricane-force.

80

90

Q&A

Here's a list of frequently asked questions on this topic

Can't find what you were looking for?

Search for a topic by entering a phrase or keyword

Feedback

What do you think about us?

Your name

Your email

Message