Do You Know the Difference Between Tropical Cyclones, Typhoons, and Hurricanes?

Do You Know the Difference Between Tropical Cyclones, Typhoons, and Hurricanes?

Recently the Biporjoy Cyclone hit the coastal line of Gujarat and has started showcasing its havoc in the state of Rajasthan as well, with its ferocious gaze, threatening the lives of the people of the state.

The Biporjoy cyclone is categorized as the ‘Tropical Cyclone’. There are many terminologies related to the storm that originated in the sea. Let’s look at them from various perspectives:

Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone:

A tropical cyclone is a rapidly spinning storm that forms over tropical oceans and takes energy from there. It has a low-pressure center and clouds spiraling towards the eyewall, which surrounds the “eye,” the central region of the storm where the weather is generally calm and cloud-free. It has a diameter of 200 to 500 km but can reach 1000 km. A tropical cyclone produces strong winds, heavy rain, high waves, and, in certain circumstances, devastating storm surges and coastal flooding. In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow anticlockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, winds blow clockwise. Tropical cyclones of a specific strength are given names for public safety reasons.

Tropical cyclones are known by many names depending on where they originate on the globe.

• Hurricanes can be found in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific oceans.
• Typhoons can be seen in the western Pacific Ocean.
• Tropical cyclones can be discovered within the South Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Even in their early phases, tropical cyclones pose one of the greatest risks to life and property. They encompass a variety of dangers, any of which can have a severe impact on life and property, such as storm surges, flooding, strong winds, tornadoes, and lighting. These dangers interact with one another, significantly increasing the possibility of loss of life and material damage.

Categorization of Tropical Cyclone:

Tropical cyclones are classified as follows, based on their greatest sustained wind speed:

• A tropical depression occurs when the greatest sustained wind speed is less than 63 km/h.
• When the maximum sustained wind speed exceeds 63 km/h, it is considered a tropical storm. It is then given a name.
• Depending on the basin, a hurricane, typhoon, tropical cyclone, or very severe cyclonic storm occurs when the highest sustained wind speed exceeds 116 km/h or 63 knots.

Impact-based Forecast and Warning Services for Multiple Hazards:

Every year, the effects of tropical cyclones and other weather, climate, and water extremes around the world cause several lives and severe damage to property and infrastructure, with long-term economic ramifications for communities. All of this occurs despite the fact that many of these catastrophic storms have been accurately forecasted and correct warning information has been issued in a timely manner by the responsible National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS). The reasons for this seeming disconnect are the gaps between hydrometeorological event forecasts and warnings and an awareness of their possible repercussions, both by agencies responsible for civil protection/emergency management and by the general public.
It is no longer sufficient to deliver a good weather forecast or warning; people now want to know what they can do to safeguard their safety and defend their property.