Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-pressure area distinguished by swift and often disruptive air circulation. The word cyclone is derived from the Greek word Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake and it was coined by Henry Piddington. In this article, we will know about the types of cyclones, how they are formed and their different names.
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Table of Contents |
What is Cyclone?
In meteorology, the term cyclone is defined as
A system of winds that are rotating inwards to an area of low barometric pressure, such that in the Northern Hemisphere it is anticlockwise and in the Southern Hemisphere it is clockwise circulation.
Cyclones are formed with an enormous amount of energy from the ocean to the atmosphere. According to studies, every year there are 70 to 90 cyclonic systems developed across the globe. The surface winds get spiralled towards the low-pressure system due to the Coriolis force. The cyclonic systems are not formed in the equatorial regions because the Coriolis force is negligible between the latitudes 5 degrees north and 5 degrees south.
Other Names of Cyclone
The cyclone is known to have different names in different regions of the world, and they are:
|
Region |
Other names for cyclone |
|
Caribbean sea |
Hurricanes |
|
China sea |
Typhoons |
|
Indian ocean |
Tropical cyclones |
|
Japan |
Taifu |
|
Northern Australia |
Wily willies |
|
Philippines |
Baguio |
|
USA |
Tornadoes |
How are Cyclones Formed?
The formation of cyclones takes place in low-pressure areas. The vulnerability of the place where the cyclone strikes depend on the topography, intensity and frequency of the cyclone.
There are 6 factors that can be held responsible for the formation of the cyclone:
- Ample amount of warm temperature at the surface of the sea.
- Instability in the atmosphere.
- How the Coriolis force is impacting the area so that low-pressure area can be created.
- When the humidity is high in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere.
- Disturbance in the pre-existing low-level area.
- When the vertical wind shear is low.
In the above diagram, we see how cyclones are formed. The rising of warm air is shown using the green lines while the cool air sinking is shown using the red arrows.
- A cyclone is formed when the warm, moist air rises upward over the ocean. As this air moves up, there is a formation of a low-pressure area below.
- Now the low-pressure area is filled with the high-pressure air from the surroundings. Again, the next batch of cool air gets warm and moist over the ocean moving upward. This once again results in the formation of a low-pressure area. The cycle continues.
- This continuous cycle results in the formation of clouds in the air. More clouds are formed as the water from the ocean evaporates.
- This leads to the formation of the storm system. As the storm system rotates faster, an eye is formed in the centre. The eye of the storm is considered to be the calm and clear part. The air pressure in the eye of the storm is low.
- Depending on the strength of the winds produced, the cyclones are divided into different classes.
The below video is an explanation of why a cyclone spins. Click here to learn more:
What are the Types of Cyclones?
There are 4 types of cyclones and they are:
- Tropical cyclone
- Polar cyclone
- Mesocyclone
- Extratropical cyclone
Tropical Cyclone
The regions where the tropical cyclone occurs are over the tropical ocean. Hurricanes and typhoons are the two types of tropical cyclone. Atlantic and Northeast Pacific are the regions where hurricanes are found. Whereas, in the Northwest Pacific, typhoons are found. A tropical cyclone is divided into 5 categories depending on the intensity and the wind speed.
The video below is an explanation of what a tropical cyclone is. Click to learn more:
Polar Cyclone
The polar cyclone is also known as the “Arctic hurricane” in the Northern Hemisphere. This is due to their energy sources. The heat is transferred from water to air and the latent heat is released in the form of cloud condensation. The forecast of the polar cyclone is difficult as they take less than 24 hours, and they are formed quickly. They are formed over the Arctic and Antarctic seas.
Mesocyclone
The mesocyclone is considered to be one of the strong thunderstorms. The mesocyclone is found within the convective storm in the form of a vortex of air. The air rises and rotates along the vertical axis. The direction of this air and the low-pressure system are the same in the given hemisphere. The mesocyclone is accompanied by the rotating air within the thunderstorm.
Extratropical Cyclone
The cyclones that are formed in the middle latitudes along the frontal boundaries are either known as extratropical cyclones or mid-latitude cyclones. The winds of the extratropical cyclone are weaker however, the temperature gradients are sharp. The nor’easter is an example of an extratropical cyclone that impacts the east coast of the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Name a few cyclone warning systems in India.
Area Cyclone Warning Centres, Cyclone Warning Centre and National Cyclone Warning Centre are a few cyclone warning systems in India.
Name the states that were affected by the Amphan cyclone in India.
West Bengal and Odisha were affected by the Amphan cyclone in India.
Name the states that were affected by the Nisarga cyclone in India.
Goa and Maharashtra are the states that were affected by the Nisarga cyclone in India.
Which is the strongest cyclone in India?
The 1970 Bhola cyclone is considered to be the strongest cyclone in India.
Name the states of India that are impacted by the tropical cyclones.
Every year close to 2-4 tropical cyclones impact different states of India. The most affected region is the east coast of India which includes Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
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