Tropical Cyclones

Tropical cyclone or hurricane is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, closed low-level atmospheric circulation and strong winds that is origin in warm tropical oceans.

The tropical cyclones depending in the place you live have differents names, for example HURRICANE is the name given by the people that live in the United State and in the Atlantic Ocean, TYPHOON is the name given when it happened in the east and north east of Asia, north Pacific Ocean, while in the south Pacific Ocean (near Australia and a part of Africa) are called CYCLONES or SEVERE CYCLONIC STORMS.

The scientists name the cyclones to identify one from the other, it depends the magnitude and the disasters to choose the name. The names given are from mens or womens, for example ¨Matthew¨, that was a cyclone category 5 formed in 2016. The names given are repeated every 6 years unless it was a terrible cyclone that produce a lot of death, damage, affected a lot of areas,etc.

Atlantic Ocean

Eastern Pacific

Western Pacific

The conditions so that a hurricane forms are the following:

• Temperature above 27 degrees Celsius: At this temperature the ocean water is evaporating at the accelerated level required for the system to form. The process of evaporation and condensation of water vapor in the form of clouds is what releases energy that gives the system strength to generate strong winds and rain.
• Humidity: As the hurricane needs the evaporation energy as fuel, there must be a lot of humidity.
• Wind: The presence of warm wind near the surface of the sea allows a lot of evaporation.
• Spins: The twist are made in a counter-clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere, and in a favorable direction in the southern hemisphere.

The grading Saffir-Simpson is the one that classify the cyclones according to the intensify of the wind.

Category 1

• Very dangerous winds will produce some damage.
• usually cause no significant structural damage to most well-constructed permanent structures.
• Coastal flooding and pier damage are often associated with Category 1 storms.
• Notorious examples of devastating Category 1 hurricanes include:
• Isaac
• Manuel
• Nate

Category 2

• Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage
• Storms of Category 2 intensity often damage roofing material (sometimes exposing the roof) and inflict damage upon poorly constructed doors and windows.
• Poorly constructed signs and piers can receive considerable damage and many trees are uprooted or snapped.
• Hurricanes that peaked at Category 2 intensity:
• Able (1952)
• Rosa (1994)
• Alex (2010)
• Arthur (2014)

Category 3

• Devastating damage will occur
• Tropical cyclones of Category 3 and higher are described as major hurricanes in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins.
• These storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood.
• Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed.
• Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures.
• A large number of trees are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas.
• Hurricanes that peaked at Category 3 intensity:
• Easy (1950)
• Elena (1985)
• Lane (2006)
• Otto (2016)

Category 4

• Catastrophic damage will occur
• Category 4 hurricanes tend to produce more extensive curtain wall failures, with some complete structural failure on small residences.
• Heavy, irreparable damage and near complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures are common.
• Most trees, except for the heartiest, are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas.
• These storms cause extensive beach erosion.
• Other examples of storms that peaked at Category 4 intensity intensity:
• Hazel (1954)
• Iris (2001)
• Gustav (2008)
• Harvey(2017)

Category 5

• Catastrophic damage will occur
• Category 5 is the highest category of the Saffir–Simpson scale.
• These storms cause complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings, and some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away.
• Very heavy and irreparable damage to many wood frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes is prevalent.
• Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact.
• Virtually all trees are uprooted or snapped and some may be debarked, isolating most affected communities.
• Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required if the hurricane threatens populated areas.
• Historical examples of storms that made landfall at Category 5 status include:
• "Cuba" (1924
• Gilbert (1988)
• Andrew (1992)
• Irma (2017)
• Maria (2017)

The main effects of tropical cyclones include heavy rain, strong wind, large storm surges at landfall, and tornadoes. The destruction from a tropical cyclone depends mainly on its intensity, its size, and its location. Hurricane winds are capable of tearing down weak structures such as houses, roofs of houses and buildings, electricity and telephone lines, trees and other structures that are fragile to the intense winds.