Physical Science 9 Christopher Ahn

Mrs. Woods October 28, 2006

The Formation of a Tropical Cyclone

The formation of a tropical cyclone is a very complicated process in which

scientists have been able to figure out. Two main factors are needed in producing a
tropical cyclone. The first of which is an ocean with surface temperatures of 80o or above
and a water depth of at least 100 ft. Also, an area on the earth where the Coriolis effect is
largely in effect. These conditions are best seen at about 10-20 o north or south of the
equator.

There are four stages to a tropical cyclone, or hurricane. The storm begins with a
tropical disturbance. Tropical disturbance can be caused by low pressure waves moving
westward on course with trade winds. A convection current occurs in the wind as the
water vapor strengthens it and causes a very strong low pressure. These winds begin to
rotate because of the Coriolis effect. If winds can keep rates of 23mph or higher, it is in
the second stage of a tropical depression. Only 10% of tropical disturbances can keep the
sustained wind motion, and once a tropical depression, only 10% of depressions lead to a
storm. At 39mph, it is classified as a tropical storm and given a name. Reaching 74mph,
a tropical storm is no longer a tropical storm but a hurricane. 40-50% of tropical storms
become hurricanes. Hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, are classified into 5 categories.
Category 1 is the weakest while category 5 can reach winds up to 320pmh.

During the birth of a tropical disturbance, a region of lower than normal air
pressure leads to a higher than normal concentration of heat which produces a convection
current of rising air. This is about 982.5 millibars, while on an average day, we
experience about 1,000 millibars. The Coriolis effect being pronounced is vital for the
production of a wind current for if the wind is traveling, so is the earth. This will slowly
cause the rotation of the winds, leading a tropical disturbance, etcetera.

Hurricane destructive ability, force, and power can be broken up into 5 categories.
A category 1 hurricane can be traveling at winds of about 74-95mph, with an average of
980 millibars, and a storm surge of 4-5ft. Category 2 hurricanes have winds of 96-
110mph, with 979.7 millibars, and a storm surge of 6-8ft. The damage of category 1 and
2 hurricanes are only minimal, and moderate to land respectively. Category 3 hurricanes
have much destructive power, with wind speeds of 111-120 mph. This category has a
storm surge of 9-12ft, and about 964.8 millibars. Category 4 and 5 hurricanes have
massive destructive power, wiping out homes, buildings, and crops. Category 4 winds
are from 131-155mph, with a storm surge ranging from 13-18 ft. The millibars of
Category 4 is very low, at 944.8. Category 5, the strongest of these catagories, has winds
more than 155mph but known to have reached over 300mph, storm surges above 18ft,
below 920.1 millibars.
 Studying these hurricanes, I see that these massive displays of nature’s power can
only lead me to see the unfathomable power of God. These hurricanes are just so large
and extensive that we can only look to a higher power. Hurricanes are named according
to regular human names, from A-Z. Hurricanes were first named by the World War II
phonetic system. We now do not name hurricanes with the letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z, due
to the absence of the amount of names beginning with those letters. Hurricanes that form
in the Pacific Ocean are called typhoons. Florida is the state with the most hurricanes.
Psalm 148:8 says, “lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his
bidding…”. By this we now that hurricanes can show us God’s power, and that
everything is in His plan and under His control.