Among all the powerful forces on Earth, extreme weather events like typhoons , tornadoes , tsunamis , and cyclones are some of the most intense and impactful. Each of these events are testament to nature's sheer, unpredictable power that can act as a destructive force on both landscapes and lives. Let us take a look at these phenomena in detail, and how they differ from each other.
Tropical Cyclones and Typhoons
While hurricanes , typhoons, and cyclones refer to the same phenomenon (tropical cyclones), the name used depends on the geographical region where they occur.This naming convention reflects the cultural, historical, and meteorological frameworks that exist within different regions of the world. For example, in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific regions, the term "hurricane" originates from the indigenous Taíno word "hurucan," which referred to a storm god. Similarly, "typhoon" has specific cultural significance in the Northwest Pacific. The word "typhoon" likely has roots in several languages, with influences from Arabic ("ṭūfān"), Greek ("typhon"), and Chinese ("tai fung," meaning "great wind").
A tropical cyclone is the term used to refer to a rotating, closed, low-level circulation of an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters. On the scale of intensity, the weakest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions. When the sustained wind reaches 39 miles per hour, the tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm.
Once a tropical cyclone attains sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or more, it is classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, depending on its region of origin. In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, the term hurricane is used. The same type of event in the Northwest Pacific is referred to as a typhoon. Meanwhile, in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the generic term tropical cyclone is used, notwithstanding the strength of the wind associated with the weather system.
Tornadoes
A tornado, on the other hand, is a violent spiral of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Since the wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado. Only if it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris, we can see it. Tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. This causes updrafts, which are created when warm air rises through the cold air. When the wind direction or strength changes, the updraft begins to rotate. Winds of a tornado may reach 300 miles per hour.
Tornadoes can occur in many parts of the world, but are most common in the midlatitudes of continents, between 20 and 60 degrees north and south. In the United States, the area where tornadoes most frequently occur is known as Tornado Alley , which includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Tsunamis
A tsunami is a series of giant waves that are caused by a large, sudden displacement of water in an ocean or large lake- usually by an earthquake or volcanic eruption, or underwater explosions that occur near or under the ocean. These displacements create a series of waves that travel across the ocean at remarkable speeds. The speed of a tsunami in deep water can exceed 500 miles per hour (800 kilometers per hour). Large tsunamis can generate waves tens of meters high.
Tropical Cyclones and Typhoons
While hurricanes , typhoons, and cyclones refer to the same phenomenon (tropical cyclones), the name used depends on the geographical region where they occur.This naming convention reflects the cultural, historical, and meteorological frameworks that exist within different regions of the world. For example, in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific regions, the term "hurricane" originates from the indigenous Taíno word "hurucan," which referred to a storm god. Similarly, "typhoon" has specific cultural significance in the Northwest Pacific. The word "typhoon" likely has roots in several languages, with influences from Arabic ("ṭūfān"), Greek ("typhon"), and Chinese ("tai fung," meaning "great wind").
A tropical cyclone is the term used to refer to a rotating, closed, low-level circulation of an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters. On the scale of intensity, the weakest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions. When the sustained wind reaches 39 miles per hour, the tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm.
Once a tropical cyclone attains sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or more, it is classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, depending on its region of origin. In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, the term hurricane is used. The same type of event in the Northwest Pacific is referred to as a typhoon. Meanwhile, in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the generic term tropical cyclone is used, notwithstanding the strength of the wind associated with the weather system.
Tornadoes
A tornado, on the other hand, is a violent spiral of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Since the wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado. Only if it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris, we can see it. Tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. This causes updrafts, which are created when warm air rises through the cold air. When the wind direction or strength changes, the updraft begins to rotate. Winds of a tornado may reach 300 miles per hour.
Tornadoes can occur in many parts of the world, but are most common in the midlatitudes of continents, between 20 and 60 degrees north and south. In the United States, the area where tornadoes most frequently occur is known as Tornado Alley , which includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Tsunamis
A tsunami is a series of giant waves that are caused by a large, sudden displacement of water in an ocean or large lake- usually by an earthquake or volcanic eruption, or underwater explosions that occur near or under the ocean. These displacements create a series of waves that travel across the ocean at remarkable speeds. The speed of a tsunami in deep water can exceed 500 miles per hour (800 kilometers per hour). Large tsunamis can generate waves tens of meters high.
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