Derik Lattig Hurricane Notes
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds , and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by names such as hurricane ( / ˈ h ʌr ɪ k ən / or / ˈ h ʌr ɪ k eɪ n / [1] [2] [3] ), typhoon / t aɪ ˈ f uː n / , tropical storm , cyclonic storm, tropical depression , and simply cyclone. [4] A hurricane is a storm that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean and northeastern Pacific Ocean , a typhoon occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, and a cyclone occurs in the south Pacific or Indian Ocean . [4] Tropical cyclones typically form over large bodies of relatively warm water. They derive their energy through the evaporation of water from the ocean surface, which ultimately recondenses into clouds and rain when moist air rises and cools to saturation . This ener