Physical & World Geography
Tropical cyclone
Rapidly rotating storm system
Overview
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is called a hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, or simply cyclone. A hurricane is a strong tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean or northeastern Pacific Ocean. A typhoon is the same thing which occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. In the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, comparable storms are referred to as "tropical cyclones". In modern times, on average around 80 to 90 named tropical cyclones form each year around the world, over half of which develop hurricane-force winds of 65 kn or more.
Source: Wikipedia — Tropical cyclone (CC BY-SA)
Key concepts
How Tropical cyclone connects to the ideas, people and events around it.
Eye (cyclone)
includesThe eye is a roughly circular area of calm weather at the center of a tropical cyclone. It typically spans 30–65 km in diameter and has the lowest surface pressure.
Low-pressure area
includesA low pressure system is an area where atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. Tropical cyclones are intense low pressure systems.
Warm ocean water
includesWarm ocean water provides the heat energy that fuels tropical cyclones. Sea surface temperatures of at least 26.5 °C are typically required.
Coriolis force
includesThe Coriolis effect is the apparent deflection of moving objects caused by Earth’s rotation. It gives tropical cyclones their characteristic spin.
Saffir–Simpson scale
← classifiesThe Saffir–Simpson scale classifies hurricanes in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific by wind speed. It ranges from Category 1 (74 mph) to Category 5 (≥157 mph).
Typhoon
includesA typhoon is the term for tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific basin. The region experiences the highest frequency of these storms.
William Gray (meteorologist)
includesWilliam Gray was a prominent American meteorologist known for his research on tropical cyclones. He founded the Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) forecasting company.
Revise Tropical cyclone
Flashcards and a quick quiz, built from this map.
Questions about Tropical cyclone
What is Tropical cyclone?
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure area, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is called a hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, or simply cyclone.
What are the key concepts related to Tropical cyclone?
The main concepts connected to Tropical cyclone include Eye (cyclone), Low-pressure area, Warm ocean water, Coriolis force, Saffir–Simpson scale, Typhoon, William Gray (meteorologist). Each is linked on the map above with its own summary.
Which exams cover Tropical cyclone?
Tropical cyclone is part of Physical & World Geography, which appears in the syllabus of UPSC CSE, UPSC CAPF, NDA, CDS, AFCAT, SSC CGL and 44 more exams.