Natural Disasters - Hurricanes
Hurricane is the phenomenon for a cyclonic storm system that forms
over the oceans. It is caused by evaporated water that comes off
of the ocean and becomes a storm. The Coriolis Effect causes the
storms to spin, and a hurricane is declared when this spinning
mass of storms attains a wind speed greater than 74 mph. Hurricane
is used for these phenomena in the Atlantic Ocean, tropical
cyclone in the Indian, and 'typhoon in the eastern Pacific.
Hurricanes have different names in different areas, they are also
known as typhoons, cyclones, and cyclonic storms. The word
Typhoon is derived from the Chinese word 大風 which means Great
Wind.
Tropical cyclones are usually formed in seven main basins
including:
-
North Atlantic Basin
- Western North Pacific Ocean
-
Eastern North Pacific Ocean
-
South Western Pacific Ocean
-
Northern Indian Ocean
-
Southeastern Indian Ocean
-
Southwestern Indian Ocean
The Eye of a cyclone is an area of sinking air at the center
of circulation. Weather in the eye is normally calm and free of
clouds. The eye is normally circular in shape and can range from 8km
to 200km in diameter.
Examples:
-
Bhola cyclone (1970)
-
Wilma devastated parts of Florida (2005)
-
Great Hurricane of 1780 (Martinique, St. Eustatius and Barbados)
Structure
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sW-hqCgb44kHUAwMpL4-cYAHsEsRfqGuL_EdTBWb1etVzWNpYDC-1KI4NVLgwBQSWESGcR5XPkuW6bFNXM0aEDsFUtZFrjC7qySq22pTgJ8bMrfL2vfSSi0XWJLQ=s0-d) |
Hurricanes form when the energy released by
the condensation of moisture in rising air causes a positive
feedback loop. The air heats up, rising further, which leads
to more condensation. The air flowing out of the top of this
“chimney” drops towards the ground, forming powerful winds. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_udP47lJq2piBYBBtEJAsmDw9BHVk8STZbf_4PMfwXQBjbQvXI3-75h3uUwU_W1Iyiw11ZaPSceXU-Ps28uKaH6OH-RUS8-CH6ZqBm1Tt0wPqDPJUBGetZ6TYZFd1IXw3tf-7TnyLhmp9Y6OUNvrQmw=s0-d) |
Structure of a hurricane |
Gallery
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tr3mGwQqY47Q0nJTGj4UeEekWQT8zkvMQny01bObJ2-_HxbV80nQSmDjyMJwLm9wWLiHSYugO1Ucn7BX0A_d5WK44GpgBBDef7uEud5J-4LfJfGtNKV4AALr607Q=s0-d) |
Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical
cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26,
2004. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vyradtdK3oiw99na70Q7gY-ESYObvVx5qb10G0IKCYvILl00RLLx5geKgKzYrIQJ7J3q6OxbG4FQ5umW1-2JglLB6RPeXCS8U0pV6fuoO1xB6ulQBnvZsu5eAHqv4=s0-d) |
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in
Gulfport, Mississippi. Katrina was the most costly tropical
cyclone in United States history. |
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