When there is a cyclone that is causing a lot of damage somewhere in the western Pacific, the word is repeated a lot typhoon, which often leads to confusion when in reality it should not be. This formation has the same characteristics as hurricanes that form in the Atlantic. In fact, they have only one difference: their place of training.
This means that they are meteorological phenomena capable of astonishing us and causing us real fear, depending on their intensity and where they are. But, What are they?
How is the typhoon formed?
Typhoons or hurricanes are tropical cyclones that form over the Atlantic and the Pacific, but only if the sea is very warm, with a temperature of at least 22 degrees Celsius. The warm and humid sea air rises causing an area of lower air pressure near the ocean. What happen? The wind, traveling in opposite directions, makes the storm begin to turn.
The air rises faster and faster filling the low pressure space, fed by the warm air from the sea surface. At the same time, it absorbs colder and drier air from the upper part, which is directed downwards. But this does not end here: while moving through the sea, the wind speed continues to increase as the typhoon's eye absorbs the warm air. At the center of the phenomenon the situation is relatively calm, and therefore the air pressure is very low.
Typhoon category
What is the Saffir-Simpson Scale?
The speed reached by the winds of these phenomena are classified according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane ScaleThis scale was developed by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and Bob Simpson, director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center, in 1969.
The original was developed by Saffir, who realized that there was no ideal scale to describe the effects of hurricanes. Thus, he invented a five-leveled one based on wind speed. Later, Simpson would add the effects of waves and floods.
In addition, as the tropical cyclone gains strength, it passes through two initial categories, which are the tropical depression and the tropical storm. Let's see how they differ:
- Tropical depression: is an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a well-defined circulation. The central pressure is >980 mbar, and the wind speed is 0 to 62 km/h. It can cause significant flooding.
- Tropical storm: is an organized system of very strong thunderstorms with a defined circulation. It has a cyclonic shape, and the central pressure is >980 mbar. Winds can blow between 63 and 117 km/h (XNUMX to XNUMX mph), making them capable of generating tornadoes.
Hurricane classification
If the cyclone strengthens further, it will then be called a hurricane or typhoon. To better understand this process, you can consult a comparison between hurricanes and typhoons.
- Category 1The central pressure is 980–994 mbar, the wind speed is 74–95 km/h, and the waves are 1,2–1,5 m high. This causes coastal flooding and damage to trees and shrubs, especially those recently planted.
- Category 2The central pressure is 965–979 mbar, the wind speed is 154–177 km/h, and the waves are 1,8–2,4 m high. Damage is caused to roofs, doors, windows, vegetation, and mobile homes.
- Category 3The central pressure is 945–964 mbar, the wind speed is 178–209 km/h, and waves are 2,7–3,7 meters high. This is causing damage to the coast, destroying small buildings. Inland flooding is possible.
- 4 Category: The central pressure is 920-944 mbar, the wind speed is 210-249 km/h, and the waves are between 4 and 5,5 m high. This causes significant damage to small buildings, beach erosion, and inland flooding.
- Category 5The central pressure is <920, the wind speed is over 250 km/h, and there are waves over 5,5 m high. Severe coastal damage is expected: flooding, roof destruction, tree collapse, and landslides. Evacuation of residents may be necessary.
Are they beneficial?
Talking about tropical cyclones is always, or practically always, talking about phenomena that cause a lot of damage. But the truth is that without them, in some parts of the world they would have many problems.
Thus, the benefits are:
- They drag rains and winds, helping that dry areas are not so dry.
- They renew the forests. Sick and / or weak specimens do not withstand the passage of a typhoon, so when they are uprooted they leave room for a seed to germinate and grow.
- Fill dams and recharge aquifers so farmers can benefit. For more information about this process, you can consult the most destructive typhoons of recent years.
- They help lower the temperature in the tropics which would otherwise be higher.
Typhoons are one of the most surprising weather phenomena, don't you think? I hope this article has been useful for you to know its characteristics and how they are classified.
