Explained | How are Cyclones formed | Hurricanes and Cyclones | Curious DNA

Summary

This script explains cyclones' formation and progression from Tropical Cyclones to Super Cyclones, based on wind speed. It clarifies that Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons are the same phenomenon, named differently by region. Originating over warm waters with low atmospheric pressure, they form through Cyclogenesis. The script highlights the largest recorded cyclone, Typhoon Tip, and emphasizes the importance of warm water for their sustenance, noting they dissipate over land.

Takeaways

• 🌀 Cyclones are categorized into Tropical Cyclones, Severe Cyclones, and Super Cyclones based on wind speed.
• 🏞️ Tropical Cyclones form when storm winds are less than 74 mph, Severe Cyclones when winds are 75-120 mph, and Super Cyclones when winds exceed 120 mph.
• 🌍 Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons are the same meteorological phenomenon but are named differently based on their location: 'Hurricane' in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, 'Typhoon' in the Northwest Pacific, and 'Cyclone' in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
• 🔄 Cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere typically rotate counterclockwise, while those in the Southern Hemisphere rotate clockwise.
• 🌡️ Cyclones originate over large water bodies with low atmospheric pressure and water temperatures above 26.5°C.
• 🌬️ Atmospheric pressure is the weight of air acting on Earth's surface and decreases with altitude.
• 🌀 Cyclogenesis is the process by which low atmospheric pressure leads to the formation of a cyclone through the circulation and strengthening of air currents.
• 🌪️ As warm air rises and cold air descends, the circulation creates a spiral pattern, leading to the development of a cyclone.
• 🌍 Tropical Cyclones can range from 100 km to 2000 km in diameter and can last from 3 to 7 days, depending on various factors.
• 🏞️ Cyclones lose strength or dissipate when they move over land, primarily due to the loss of their heat source from warm water.
• 📊 Since 957 A.D., there have been at least 11,982 recorded tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, with Typhoon Tip in 1979 being the largest and strongest on record.

Q & A

What are the three stages of cyclone development?

The three stages of cyclone development are Tropical Cyclones, Severe Cyclones, and Super Cyclones.

What is the wind speed range for a Tropical Cyclone?

A Tropical Cyclone is characterized by wind speeds of less than 74 miles per hour.

How is a Severe Cyclone differentiated from a Tropical Cyclone in terms of wind speed?

A Severe Cyclone has wind speeds between 75 to 120 miles per hour.

What is the wind speed threshold for a Super Cyclone?

A Super Cyclone is identified when the wind speed exceeds 120 miles per hour.

What are the different names for cyclones depending on their location?

In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, it is called a 'Hurricane'. In the Northwest Pacific, it is a 'Typhoon', and in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, it is referred to as a 'Cyclone'.

How can cyclones be classified based on hemispheres?

Cyclones in the Northern hemisphere are typically called Hurricanes, while those in the Southern hemisphere are called Cyclones.

What is the general atmospheric condition required for the formation of a cyclone?

Cyclones form when there is low atmospheric pressure over a large, warm water body with temperatures above 26.5°C.

What is atmospheric pressure and how does it vary with altitude?

Atmospheric pressure is the weight of air acting against the Earth's surface, including gravity. It is higher at the Earth's surface and decreases as altitude increases due to less air density.

What is the process called when thin air circulates, strengthens, and develops into a cyclonic formation?

The process is called Cyclogenesis.

Why do cyclones typically fade away when they cross land?

Cyclones fade away when crossing land because they lose their main source of energy, which is warm water. They require moist warm air to sustain themselves, and land surfaces or cold water surfaces disrupt this.

What is the largest cyclone ever recorded, and where did it occur?

The largest cyclone ever recorded is Typhoon Tip, which occurred in 1979 in the South Pacific Ocean near the Philippines, with a diameter of 2200 km and wind speeds of 190 miles per hour (305 km/hr), lasting for almost 20 days.