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Outline of tropical cyclones: Difference between revisions

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*[[North Atlantic hurricane]] –
*[[North Atlantic hurricane]] –
*[[Pacific typhoon]] –
*[[Pacific typhoon]] –
*[[Mediterranean tropical cyclone]] –
*[[Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone]] –
*[[Annular hurricane]] –
*[[Annular hurricane]] –
*[[Cape Verde-type hurricane]] –
*[[Cape Verde hurricane]] –
*[[Tropical wave]] –
*[[Tropical wave]] –



Revision as of 13:22, 23 April 2023

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to tropical cyclones:

Tropical cyclones, storm systems characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones develop or strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. They are fueled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic windstorms such as nor'easters, European windstorms, and polar lows. The characteristic that separates tropical cyclones from other cyclonic systems is that at any height in the atmosphere, the center of a tropical cyclone will be warmer than its surroundings; a phenomenon called "warm core" storm systems.

Nature of tropical cyclones

Tropical cyclones can be described as all of the following:

  • Storm – disturbed state of an environment or astronomical body's atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation (snowstorm, rainstorm), heavy freezing rain (ice storm), strong winds (tropical cyclone, windstorm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere such as sand or debris.
  • Natural disaster – major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or property damage, and typically leaves some economic damage in its wake, the severity of which depends on the affected population's resilience, or ability to recover.

Types of tropical cyclones

Cumulative graph of tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific

Tropical cyclone observations

Saffir–Simpson scale, 1-minute maximum sustained winds
Category m/s knots mph km/h
5 ≥ 70 ≥ 137 ≥ 157 ≥ 252
4 58–70 113–136 130–156 209–251
3 50–58 96–112 111–129 178–208
2 43–49 83–95 96–110 154–177
1 33–42 64–82 74–95 119–153
TS 18–32 34–63 39–73 63–118
TD ≤ 17 ≤ 33 ≤ 38 ≤ 62

Forecasting

Tropical cyclone history

Tropical cyclone seasons

Specific tropical cyclones

Hurricane Isabel viewed from the International Space Station in September 2003

See also

References

Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers