Weather Disturbances: Types of Storms
WEATHER DISTURBANCES Storms are the most dangerous and most feared of all phenomena. There are three types of storms: tropical cyclones, thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Typhoons or Hurricanes
Typhoons are cyclonic storms that originate in certain areas of the tropics. They are found in all oceans except the South Atlantic. They are usually described as intense tropical disturbance characterized by a low-pressure area at the center. These disturbances originate over water. The most probable push for the vigorous action in starting these rotary storms due to earth’s rotation, results from cold air meeting warm, moist, rising air. The tremendous energy derived from the condensation of the water vapor supplied by the moist, tropical trades is readily converted into kinetic energy. One simple way of determining the center of the typhoon is if the wind is blowing against your back, the center of the typhoon is directly to your left. The “eye” of a typhoon is a small central area of some 10-50 kms. in diameter. It is characterized by relatively calm or light winds, clear partly cloudy skies, high humidity, warm temperature, and usually fine weather. When facing a moving typhoon, the side to your right is called the right side of the typhoon. This is the dangerous half of the typhoon because this side is where the winds are strongest. The southwestern part of the North Pacific has more typhoons than any other place on earth.
Tropical cyclones are classified according to the strength of the accompanying winds are:
a. Depression (has a maximum wind speed less than 65 kms/hr.)
b. Tropical storms (has a maximum wind speed ranging from 65 kms/hr. to 120 kms/hr.)
c. Typhoon (has a wind of 120 kms/hr. or more)
There are two region of tropical storm formation near the Philippines. The first region is the area in the Pacific between the Philippines and the Marianas islands. Most of the storms that affect the Philippines come from this region. The second region is the South China
Typhoons or Hurricanes
Typhoons are cyclonic storms that originate in certain areas of the tropics. They are found in all oceans except the South Atlantic. They are usually described as intense tropical disturbance characterized by a low-pressure area at the center. These disturbances originate over water. The most probable push for the vigorous action in starting these rotary storms due to earth’s rotation, results from cold air meeting warm, moist, rising air. The tremendous energy derived from the condensation of the water vapor supplied by the moist, tropical trades is readily converted into kinetic energy. One simple way of determining the center of the typhoon is if the wind is blowing against your back, the center of the typhoon is directly to your left. The “eye” of a typhoon is a small central area of some 10-50 kms. in diameter. It is characterized by relatively calm or light winds, clear partly cloudy skies, high humidity, warm temperature, and usually fine weather. When facing a moving typhoon, the side to your right is called the right side of the typhoon. This is the dangerous half of the typhoon because this side is where the winds are strongest. The southwestern part of the North Pacific has more typhoons than any other place on earth.
Tropical cyclones are classified according to the strength of the accompanying winds are:
a. Depression (has a maximum wind speed less than 65 kms/hr.)
b. Tropical storms (has a maximum wind speed ranging from 65 kms/hr. to 120 kms/hr.)
c. Typhoon (has a wind of 120 kms/hr. or more)
There are two region of tropical storm formation near the Philippines. The first region is the area in the Pacific between the Philippines and the Marianas islands. Most of the storms that affect the Philippines come from this region. The second region is the South China