A tropical cyclone is a storm system cup characterized by a low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. They are fueled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic windstorms such as nor'easters, European windstorms, and polar lows. The characteristic that separates tropical cyclones from other cyclonic systems is that at any height in the atmosphere, the center of a tropical cyclone will be warmer than its surroundings; a phenomenon called "warm core" storm systems.

The term "tropical" refers both to the geographical origin of these systems, which usually form in tropical regions of the globe, and to their formation in maritime tropical air masses. The term "cyclone" refers to such storms' cyclonic nature, with counterclockwise wind flow in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise wind flow in the Southern Hemisphere. The opposite direction of the wind flow is a result of the Coriolis force. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by names such as hurricane (/ˈhʌrɨkeɪn/, /ˈhʌrɨkən/), typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone.

While tropical cyclones can produce extremely powerful winds and torrential rain, they are also able to produce high waves and damaging storm surge as well as spawning tornadoes. They develop over large bodies of warm water, and lose their strength if they move over land due to increased surface friction and loss of the warm ocean as an energy source. This is why coastal regions can receive significant damage from a tropical cyclone, while inland regions are relatively safe from receiving strong winds. Heavy rains, however, can produce significant flooding inland, and storm surges can produce extensive coastal flooding up to 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the coastline. Although their effects on human populations can be devastating, tropical cyclones can relieve drought conditions. They also carry heat energy away from the tropics and transport it toward temperate latitudes, which makes them an important part of the global atmospheric circulation mechanism. As a result, tropical cyclones help to maintain equilibrium in the Earth's troposphere, and to maintain a relatively stable and warm temperature worldwide.

Many tropical cyclones develop when the atmospheric conditions around a weak disturbance in the atmosphere are favorable. The background environment is modulated by climatological cycles and patterns such as the Madden-Julian oscillation, El Niño-Southern Oscillation, and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation. Others form when other types of cyclones acquire tropical characteristics. Tropical systems are then moved by steering winds in the troposphere; if the conditions remain favorable, the tropical disturbance intensifies, and can even develop an eye. On the other end of the spectrum, if the conditions around the system deteriorate or the tropical cyclone makes landfall, the system weakens and eventually dissipates. It is not possible to artificially induce the dissipation of these systems with current technology.

Part of a series on Tropical cyclones Formation and naming Development Structure Naming List of storm names Effects Warnings and watches Storm surge Notable storms Climatology and tracking Basins RSMCs Scales Observation Forecasting Rainfall forecasting Rainfall climatology Historic lists historic List of retired Atlantic hurricane names List of retired Pacific hurricane names List of retired Pacific typhoon names (JMA) List of named tropical cyclones List of historic tropical cyclone names Outline of tropical cyclones Tropical cyclones portal

Noun

hurricane (plural hurricanes)

1. A severe tropical cyclone in the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or in the eastern North Pacific off the west coast of Mexico, with winds of 75 miles per hour (120.7 kph) or greater accompanied by rain, lightning, and thunder that sometimes moves into temperate latitudes.
2. (meteorology) a wind scale for quite strong wind, stronger than a storm

Coordinate terms

• (type of a cyclone): cyclone, tropical storm, typhoon
• (meteorology): breeze, gale, storm

Deadly Hurricane, Tropical Cyclone and Hurricanes ...
... Hurricanes. ... (meteorology): breeze, gale, storm ... gain information on these deadly storms. Hurricane ... ... Deadly Hurricane, Tropical Cyclone and Hurricanes ... ... Science ...
www.deadlyhurricane.com

---

Hurricanes (Pressure, Meteorological, Tropical Cyclone ...
Deadly Hurricane, Tropical Cyclone and Hurricanes ... An informational site about Deadly Hurricane, Tropical Cyclone and Hurricanes. www.deadlyhurricane.com
www.deadlyhurricane.com/hurricanes

---

Hurricane Katrina (Effects of Hurricane Katrina) @ DeadlyHurricane.com
... "Deadly Hurricane ... tropical cyclone and second hurricane ... See also: Hurricane Katrina Comparison of Hurricanes Camille (left ... Deadly Hurricane ... Science: Earth Sciences ...
www.deadlyhurricane.com/hurricane_katrina

---

Hurricane Quotations (Tropical Cyclones, Cyclones ...
Hurricane Quotations. Includes Tropical Cyclone, Hurricane Center, Storm, Cyclone, Questions, Hurricane Knots Mph, Center, Hemisphere and Increase information plus ...
www.deadlyhurricane.com/hurricane/quotes.htm

	New Location:
city:
state/region:
country:

Society: Philanthropy: Organizations: Religious ...
See also: Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Missions: Organizations (361) This category in other languages: Danish (9) Russian (4) Swedish (13)

---

Science: Earth Sciences: Natural Disasters and ...
See also: Business: Business Services: Fire and Security: Emergency Management (184) Kids: School Time: Science: The Earth: Natural Disasters and Hazards (39)

---

Kids: School Time: Science: The Earth ...
See also: Kids: School Time: Science: The Earth: Cycles: Water (12) Kids: School Time: Science: The Earth: Erosion (18) Kids: School ...