SCIENCE 8

WHAT ARE TYPHOONS?

• Typhoons are a bunch of clouds and thunderstorms that
originate over tropical and subtropical ocean waters forming a
closed circulation. A lot of people mention different names like
hurricane, tropical cyclone and typhoon but refer to only one
phenomenon that differs on its location. These typhoons simply
exist because it is a natural happening that occurs from time to
time.
 HURRICANES

• Hurricanes – Develop over Atlantic and Eastern Pacific

Oceans.
 TROPICAL CYCLONES

• Tropical Cyclone – Develop over the Indian Ocean on

warm water.
 TYPHOONS

• Typhoons – Develop over Western Pacific Ocean.

 HOW DO TYPHOONS DEVELOP?
• Typhoon form over the warm ocean water of the tropics, when warm moist air over the water
rises it is placed by cooler air. The cooler air will then warm and start to rise. The
temperature difference between the warm, rising air and the cooler environment enhances
the upward movement of the rising air. This cycle causes huge storm clouds to formed that
will begin to rotate with the spin of the earth forming an organized system. If there is
enough warm water, the cycle will continue and the storm clouds and wind speed will grow
causing a typhoon to form.
 WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF
TROPICAL CYCLONE?
1.Pre-existing weather disturbance
2.Warm tropical oceans
3.Moisture
4.Relatively light winds
• If these conditions continue long enough, they can combine to produce
violent winds, large waves (tsunamis),torrential rains, and floods that
associate with this phenomenon.
 DID YOU KNOW?
• The biggest ever storm that records was Super Typhoon Tip in 1979
near Micronesia in the Western Pacific. It is 2,200 km wide with 305
km/h wind.