Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World

Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other

Weather Systems in the World

De Jesus, Matt

Del Socorro, Trevorr

Dolojan, Mary Elaine

Espana, Enzo

Hundangan, Gabriel Bryan

Lee, Jayson

Quilang, John Ace

Mapua University

Author Note

Research Project as a Requirement for Completion of CE141- Hydrology

Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 2

Abstract

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Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 3

Meteorology is the science that deals with the earth’s atmosphere and its phenomena;

specifically, that of weather and climates and its effect on the earth’s surface, oceans and life in

general. Weather and Climate are terms in Meteorology that is often used interchangeably but

literally they are different from each other. Weather is the condition in the atmosphere at any given

time. Whereas, Climate is an average portrait of weather conditions in a specific place over a long

period. (bagong pagasa)

In most places, weather can change from minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and

season-to-season. The average weather in a specific region, as well as its variations and extremes

over many years, is called climate. Climate changes too like weather but it would take hundreds

or even thousands of years to happen. The Climate of the Philippines is tropical and maritime. It

is characterized by relatively high temperature, high humidity and abundant rainfall. It is similar

in many respects to the climate of the countries of Central America.

There are six main components, or parts, of weather and climate. They are temperature,

atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity precipitations, and cloudiness. Together, these components

describe the weather at any given time. (national geographic)

Temperature is the degree of hotness and coldness of the atmosphere and it is measured

with a thermometer. It is commonly reported in two ways: in Celsius (C) and in Fahrenheit (F).

The coldest weather usually happens near the poles while the warmest weather usually felt near

the equator. Based on the average of all weather stations in the Philippines, excluding Baguio, the

mean annual temperature is 26.6oC. The coolest months fall in January with a mean temperature

of 25.5oC while the warmest month occurs in May with a mean temperature of 28.3oC.
Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 4

Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the atmosphere overhead. Changes in atmospheric

pressure signal shifts in the weather. A high-pressure system usually brings cool temperatures and

clear skies. A low-pressure system can bring warmer weather, storms, and rain.

Atmospheric pressure is usually expresses in a unit of measurement called an atmosphere.

Atmospheres are measured in millibars or inches of mercury. Average atmospheric pressure at sea

level is about one atmosphere (about 1,013 millibars, or 29.9 inches). An average low-pressure

system, or cyclone, measures about 995 millibars (29.4 inches). A typical high-pressure system,

or anticyclone, usually reaches 1,030 millibars (30.4 inches). The word “cyclone” refers to air that

rotates in a circle, like a wheel. Atmospheric pressure changes with greater altitude.

Wind is the movement of air. Wind forms because of differences in temperature and

atmospheric pressure between nearby regions. Winds tend to blow from areas of high pressure,

where it’s colder, to areas of low pressure, where it’s warmer.

Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. Water vapor is a gas in the

atmosphere that helps make clouds, rain, or snow. Humidity is usually expressed as relative

humidity, or the percentage of the maximum amount of water air can hold at a given temperature.

Cool air holds less water than warm air. At a relative humidity of 100 percent, air is said to

be saturated, meaning the air cannot hold any more water vapor. Excess water vapor will fall as

precipitation. Clouds and precipitation occur when air cools below its saturation point. This usually

happens when warm, humid air cools as it rises.

The most humid place on earth is near the equator for instance, the Philippines has a high

relative humidity Due to high temperature and the surrounding bodies of water. The average

monthly relative humidity varies between 71% in March and 85% in September. The combination

of warm temperature and high relative and absolute humidity give rise to high sensible temperature
Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 5

throughout the archipelago. It is especially uncomfortable during March to May, when temperature

and humidity attain their maximum levels.

Clouds come in a variety of forms. Not all of them produce precipitation.

Wispy cirrus clouds, for example, usually signal mild weather. Other kinds of clouds can bring

rain or snow. A blanket-like cover of nimbostratus clouds produces steady, extended precipitation.

Enormous cumulonimbus clouds, or thunderheads, release heavy downpours. Cumulonimbus

clouds can produce thunderstorms and tornadoes as well.

Clouds can affect the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. Cloudy days are

cooler than clear ones because clouds prevent more of the sun’s radiation from reaching the Earth’s

surface. The opposite is true at night—then, clouds act as a blanket, keeping the Earth warm.

Cloud patterns indicate the presence of weather systems, which produce most of the weather we

are familiar with: rainfall.

In the Philippines, rainfall is the most important climatic element. Rainfall distribution

throughout the country varies from one region to another, depending upon the direction of the

moisture-bearing winds and the location of the mountain systems. The mean annual rainfall of the

Philippines varies from 965 to 4,064 millimeters annually. Baguio City, eastern Samar, and eastern

Surigao receive the greatest amount of rainfall while the southern portion of Cotabato receives the

least amount of rain. At General Santos City in Cotabato, the average annual rainfall is only 978

millimeters.

Using temperature and rainfall as bases, the climate of the country can be divided into two

major seasons: (1) the rainy season, from June to November; and (2) the dry season, from

December to May. The dry season may be subdivided further into (a) the cool dry season, from

December to February; and (b) the hot dry season, from March to May.
Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 6

Climate Type in The Philippines

Based on the distribution of rainfall, four climate types are recognized, which are described

as follows:

Figure 1.1 Climate Map of the Philippines based on the Modified Corona Classification

(http://www.lcp.org.ph/UserFiles/League_of_Cities/file/WPF-Weather101-updated.pdf)

Typhoons have a great influence on the climate and weather conditions of the Philippines.

A great portion of the rainfall, humidity and cloudiness are due to the influence of typhoons. They

generally originate in the region of the Marianas and Caroline Islands of the Pacific Ocean which

have the same latitudinal location as Mindanao. Their movements follow a northwesterly direction,
Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 7

sparing Mindanao from being directly hit by majority of the typhoons that cross the country. This

makes the southern Philippines very desirable for agriculture and industrial development.

Tropical Cyclones

Oceans and seas have great influence on the weather of continental masses. A large portion

of the solar energy reaching the sea-surface is expended in the process of evaporation. These water

evaporated from the sea/ocean is carried up into the atmosphere and condenses, forming clouds

from which all forms of precipitation result. Sometimes, intense cyclonic circulations occur which

is what we call the tropical cyclones.

Tropical cyclones are warm-core low pressure systems associated with a spiral inflow of

mass at the bottom level and spiral outflow at the top level. They always form over oceans where

sea surface temperature, also air temperatures are greater than 26°C. The air accumulates large

amounts of sensible and latent heat as it spirals towards the center. It receives this heat from the

sea and the exchange can occur rapidly, because of the large amount of spray thrown into the air

by the wind. The energy of the tropical cyclone is thus derived from the massive liberation of the

latent heat of condensation.

Tropical cyclone is defined as a non-frontal, synoptic-scale cyclone developing over

tropical and sub-tropical waters at any level and having a definitely organized circulation. In other

parts of the world, these are referred to as hurricanes, typhoons or simply tropical cyclones

depending on the region. In the North Atlantic, Eastern North Pacific and South Pacific Ocean,

they are called "hurricanes". In the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Western South Indian Ocean,

the name is "cyclonic". In the eastern part of the Southern Indian Ocean, it is "willy-willy", and in

the Western North Pacific Ocean, they are called "typhoons".

Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 8

Tropical cyclones can only form over oceans of the world except in the South Atlantic

Ocean and the south eastern Pacific where a tropical cyclone could never be formed due to the

cooler sea surface temperature and higher vertical wind shears. They develop at latitudes usually

greater than 5° from the equator. They reach their greatest intensity while located over warm

tropical water. As soon as they move inland, they begin to weaken, but often not before they have

caused great destruction.

The Philippines is prone to tropical cyclones due to its geographical location which

generally produce heavy rains and flooding of large areas and also strong winds which result in

heavy casualties to human life and destructions to crops and properties. Thus, it is of utmost

importance to have sufficient knowledge on such maritime phenomena for beneficial purposes.

The intensity of tropical cyclones varies, thus, we can classify them based upon their degree

of intensity. The classification of tropical cyclones according to the strength of the associated

winds as adopted by PAGASA as of 01 May 2015 are as follows:

Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 9

Figure 1.2 Tropical Cyclone Classification and Storm Warning Systems

(https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Classifications-and-Categories-of-Tropical-Cyclone-in-the-

Philippines_fig4_324217488)
Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 10

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References

Last Name, F. M. (Year). Article Title. Journal Title, Pages From - To.

Last Name, F. M. (Year). Book Title. City Name: Publisher Name.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/weather/?fbclid=IwAR3pPIhfryGwbE

1NHz9QTdD_mTo19DZ4c8y3h0PEjSJdrNXsJ3Sfk5WYCKA

http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-

philippines?fbclid=IwAR0hvuaBpdrlw0wuDwGoR2l9AEco9p9HkvdSpllDfPzASVx36UlqYzf7

Pf4
Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines and Other Weather Systems in the World 12

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