Recording-2025-03-14T15:33:40.834Z

Tropical Cyclones

• Definition: A tropical cyclone is a low-pressure system that forms over tropical or subtropical waters characterized by convective activity and cyclonic wind circulation.

  • Not associated with a warm or cold front, distinguishing it from frontal systems.

  • Operates on a synoptic scale (city scale or larger).

Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones

• Cyclones can create explosive pressure changes, sometimes referred to as weather bombs.

• Thunderstorm activity can accompany these systems.

Distribution of Tropical Cyclones

• Tropical cyclones exhibit variation in frequency annually.

• Observation: Land areas generally heat more than oceans during summer, contributing to the intensity of tropical cyclones.

  • Heat, especially over moist land, can enhance cyclone formation.

Coriolis Effect

• The Coriolis effect is an important phenomenon in weather systems, particularly in relation to tropical cyclones.

  • Described more accurately as an effect rather than a force.

  • Influences the direction of winds, with trade winds flowing from Africa over the Atlantic Ocean.

Pressure Gradient Force

• The strength of wind within tropical cyclones is influenced by the pressure gradient.

• Key Concept: The greater the pressure difference between high and low-pressure areas, the steeper the pressure gradient and the stronger the winds.

  • Wind naturally moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure.

Centrifugal Force vs. Centripetal Force

• Centrifugal Force: Often referred to incorrectly, it is the reactive force perceived in a rotating system, opposing centripetal force.

  • Centripetal Force: The real force that acts to keep an object moving in a circular path, maintaining its radius and controlling the system's dynamics.

• Inertia: The concept highlights that an object in motion will continue to move unless acted upon by an external force. This concept is critical in understanding cyclone dynamics.