Natural Hazards - Tropical Cyclones
Date : Saturday, May 21, 2011
Time : 11:11 PM
Title : Watch Video


Here is a short clip of a cyclone forming, and then dissipating near Australia:


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History

The word "Cyclone" just means 'turning wind with one eye. It relates to the word "Cyclops" that one eyed creature in an Ancient Greek story.
Cyclones are called typhoons near the South China sea (from the chinese word meaning 'big wind')

What it is

A tropical cyclone is a twirling destructive twist of strong wind and rain that originates in the ocean, and develops as more water evaporates and rises.
When it moves onto lands, it damages everything it comes across, but eventually dies of as it travels further from the ocean.

How it forms

The first step a cyclone needs to form is heated water. Ocean waters need to be at least 26.5 degrees Celsius to fuel the moist warm energy that powers the cyclone.
As warm air slowly rises, it condenses into thunderclouds. Cold winds blow into the humidity, and depending the hemisphere, the winds will start to circle.

During the hurricane season, the Coriolis effect of the Earth's rotation starts the winds in the thunderstorm spinning in a circular motion.

Impacts

Environmental:
-Flooding in low land areas
-Coral reefs can be damaged
-Trees destuction along coastlines
-Animals that burrow into the ground, in coastal waters, or birds
-Storm surges and waves

Economical:
-Billions of dollars are paid to fix the damage
-Around 10,000 people yearly die from cyclones around the world
-Losses in agriculture
-More money is spent on warnings and preparation as well

Social:
-School buildings may be ruined
-Food crops and farming areas may be damaged
-People may become homeless, finding no structure remaining
-Businesses can be wiped out, resulting in unemployment


Archives

May 2011


Bibliography

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Website 6


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