You may already have heard about some devastating cyclones or seen them on television. However, do you know the causes behind those cyclones? Let us discuss this in detail below.
What Is a Cyclone?
A cyclone, a hurricane, or a typhoon is a specific weather condition that may cause severe damage to coastal regions.
It is a rotating system of winds that moves around a low-pressure center. This center of the storm is known as the “eye,” and the area surrounding the eye is known as the “eyewall,” where the strongest wind and heaviest rain occur.
The formation of a cyclone
The formation of a cyclone needs specific atmospheric conditions.
One of the major causes is warm water. The ocean must be at least 26.5 degrees Celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit for a cyclone to form.
Warm water offers the energy required for the storm to develop and even intensify. The warm water evaporates, eventually creating heat and moisture that rises into the atmosphere. This creates an area of low pressure that draws in more moisture and warm air from the surrounding area.
Another significant factor is the Coriolis effect, a phenomenon caused by the Earth’s rotation. This Coriolis effect can deflect air to the Northern Hemisphere’s right part and to the Southern Hemisphere’s left.
This forms a rotation in the air that can force a low-pressure system to spin. If all the conditions are right, the spinning low-pressure system can turn or intensify into a cyclone.
The formation of a cyclone also needs a particular level of atmospheric instability. This means that the moisture and temperature levels in the atmosphere must be in flux, which enables the storm to grow and also intensify.
Moreover, a cyclone needs relatively low wind shear, which is the difference in wind speed and direction between the upper and lower portions of the atmosphere. If there is a lot of wind shear, it may disrupt the storm and can also prevent it from intensifying.
Areas Where Cyclones Form
In several areas on our planet, cyclones are more likely to form. One of them is the Western Pacific Ocean, where typhoons are very common. Another area is the North Atlantic Ocean, where hurricanes can easily form. The Southern Hemisphere and the Indian Ocean also experience cyclones.
Climate Change: It Can Be an Important Factor
Climate change can increase the frequency of cyclones and even intensify them. As the sea surface’s temperature increases, more energy will be available that will eventually fuel the storms. In addition, due to climate change, the atmosphere is becoming increasingly unstable, which may allow storms to grow and even intensify more quickly.
Impact of cyclones
After knowing how a cyclone is formed, you may want to know the impact of this strong, moving wind. Some significant impacts of a cyclone can be:
Torrential rainfall may result in unprecedented damage to buildings and houses and even cause floods.
Strong, moving winds may uproot trees, cause damage to infrastructures, and even lead to several other catastrophes.
The rise in seawater level may erode embankments and beaches.
Due to storm surges, the levels of seawater may increase, and the coastal areas may be exposed to floods.
Severe storms damage vegetation and livestock.
Hence, in this article, we have learned several exciting things about cyclones. For some additional information, you can visit our website.
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