Cyclones


Wind Storm Cyclones II - Concepts
Class - 7th ISO Subjects
 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Cyclones

Cyclones:

It is the general term for violent circular winds with torrential rains that originate in the tropics. They are called by different names as mentioned above.

Cyclones (or hurricanes) develop over the warm moist waters of the oceans near the equator. The water heats up the atmosphere above it. Warm air rises and cooler air from the surroundings rushes in to take its place.

This results in a number of small thunderstorms over the ocean. All these small storms then merge into one complex storm.

If a storm stays over water, it will continue to grow. Due to the rotation of the Earth, these winds start spinning. Wind speeds at this time are less than 60 km/h. If the wind speed climbs above 64 km/h, it is called a tropical storm. Some tropical storms die out in. a few days, while others may continue to grow and develop into full-fledged cyclones with wind speeds well over 120 km/h.

As a cyclone forms, the pressure falls in the centre of the storm and this is called the eye of the storm It could be 16 to 32 km across. Although there are strong winds around the eye, within it everything is calm. Cyclones can be huge. Some can even be 800 km across.

The Ocean storm is called a tropical disturbance which is like a bunch of thunderstorms with very little wind circulation. When the wind speed goes up to 32-55 km per hour, the ocean storm becomes a tropical depression. a tropical depression becomes a tropical storm if the wind reaches 56-100 km per hour. When the wind speed reaches 120 km per hour or greater it is called a cyclone. Cyclone may have a diameter of 640-800 km.

There are number of structural characteristics common to all cyclones. As they are low pressure areas. Their centre is the area of lowest pressure in the region and is called eye of the storm.

The formation of cyclones depends on the temperature, humidity, the speed and the direction of the winds.

Following can be causes of a cyclones:

1. Difference in the temperature of the two regions.

2. Difference in air pressure between two regions.

Thus Cyclones are caused by warm tropical moisture bearing clouds developing in open oceans or seas. Cyclones can only form over warm water in the tropical regions of the oceans where sea temperatures are around large 80^{circ}F. They occur in low pressure areas where the warm rising air becomes full of moisture and then it condenses to thunder clouds.

The blowing of wind from the cold regions to the hot region occurs during the whole process. During this, spinning of earth on its own axis causes a spiral upward movement of air. Thus th winds start rotating fster and a cyclone is formed.

Huuricanes: A hurricane is a deep depressio in which wind storms from upto 300 km across and 9 km high. Hurricanes develop over oceans but never close to the equator. Storms are termed as Hurrincanes in US, typhoons in the China sea and cyclones in the Indian ocean. Hurricanes are set up when the winds from opposite direction meet over warm tropical regions and upward spiral of air is set up. The speed of air increases as it spirals inward. Thus it drawn more and more energy from the water vapours rising above the sea. Thus a large amount of energy is acquired by the spiral of air which supports the hurricanes.

Sample Questions
(More Questions for each concept available in Login)
Question : 1

Which country is most likely to be affected by cyclones ?

Right Option : B
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Question : 2

During a cyclone air moves from:

Right Option : A
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Question : 3

Which of the following is true of the 'eye' of a cyclone?

Right Option : B
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