1.3.1

Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone

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Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones

Tropical storms form over water that is 26.5oC or warmer and when there's a small difference in wind speeds between the upper atmosphere and the lower atmosphere.

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Form over warm water

  • Tropical storms form over water that is 26.5oC or warmer.
    • These temperatures are favourable because they mean there's lots of warm, moist air to cause extreme rain. Energy from warm water intensifies cyclones.
  • Lots and lots of energy is released when air evaporates, rises or cools. This increases the speed and energy of a storm.
  • The strength of a storm falls as they move further away from warm water (so when storms are above land or above cooler parts of the ocean).
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Move west

  • Near the equator, surface winds are mainly trade winds moving east.
  • The trade winds and something called the Coriolis Effect mean that tropical storms move from east to west.
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Spin

  • The rotation of the Earth causes the Coriolis effect, which makes tropical storms spin by deflecting winds.
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Source areas

  • The source area for most cyclones is between 5o and 30o north and south because the water is below 26.5oC further from the equator.
  • Most cyclones form when sea temperatures are warmest, which is June-November in the northern hemisphere, and November-April in the southern hemisphere.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Geography

1.1River Environments

1.1.1Weathering

1.1.2Mass Movement

1.1.3Erosion

1.1.4Transportation

1.1.5Deposition

1.1.6River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges

1.1.7River Landforms: Interlocking Spurs

1.1.8River Landforms: Flood Plains

1.1.9River Landforms: Point Bars

1.1.10River Landforms: Levees

1.1.11River Landforms: Meanders

1.1.12River Landforms: Oxbow Lakes

1.1.13River Landscape Changes: Long Profile

1.1.14River Landscape Changes: Cross Profile

1.1.15Vertical & Lateral Erosion

1.1.16Flood Risk Factors

1.1.17Human Activities on Rivers

1.1.18River Management: Hard Engineering

1.1.19River Management: Soft Engineering

1.1.20Case Study: The River Eden - Landforms

1.1.21Case Study: The River Eden - Climate

1.1.22Case Study: The River Eden - Geology

1.1.23Case Study: The River Eden - Management

1.1.24Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity

1.1.25End of Topic Test - River Environments

1.2Coastal Environments

1.2.1Weathering

1.2.2Mass Movement

1.2.3Erosion

1.2.4Deposition

1.2.5Longshore Drift

1.2.6Sediment Transportation

1.2.7Wave Action on Coasts

1.2.8Other Factors Influencing Coasts

1.2.9Coastal Landforms: Wave-cut Platforms & Cliffs

1.2.10Coastal Landforms: Headlands & Bays

1.2.11Coastal Landforms: Caves, Arches & Stacks

1.2.12Coastal Deposition

1.2.13Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes

1.2.14Human Activity on Coasts

1.2.15Coastal Defences: Hard Engineering

1.2.16Coastal Defences: Soft Engineering

1.2.17Coastal Defences: Managed Retreat

1.2.18Case Study: Holderness Coast Overview

1.2.19Case Study: Holderness Coast Management

1.2.20Case Study: Holderness Coast Defences

1.2.21End of Topic Test - Coastal Environments

1.3Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.3.1Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.2Structure of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.3Physical Hazards of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.4The Impacts of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.5Responses to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.6Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.7Preparing for Tropical Cyclones

1.3.8Case Study: Katrina

1.3.9Case Study: Nargis

1.4Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

1.4.1Earthquakes

1.4.2Features of an Earthquake

1.4.3Types of Earthquake

1.4.4Case Study: L'Aquila

1.4.5Case Study: Chile

1.4.6Case Study: Japan & Pakistan - Planning

1.4.7Volcanoes

1.4.8Types of Volcanoes

1.4.9Volcanic Eruptions

2Human Geography

2.1Economic Activity & Energy

2.1.1Increasing Energy Consumption

2.1.2Non-Renewable Energy - Nuclear

2.1.3Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels

2.1.4Renewable Energy - Solar

2.1.5Renewable Energy - Water & Bio

2.1.6Renewable Energy - Hydro

2.1.7Energy - Statistical Skills

2.2Rural Environments

2.2.1Rainforests

2.2.2Temperate Forests

2.2.3Characteristics of a Temperate Forest

2.2.4Goods & Services in Temperate Forests

2.2.5Deserts

2.2.6Tundra

2.3Urban Environments

2.3.1Urbanisation in Different Countries

2.3.2Causes of Urbanisation

2.3.3Consequences of Urbanisation

2.3.4Sustainable Urbanisation

2.3.5Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City

2.3.6End of Topic Test - Urbanisation

3Global Issues

3.1Fragile Environments & Climate Change

3.1.1Natural Causes of Climate Change

3.1.2Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

3.1.3Effects of Climate Change on People

3.1.4Impacts of Deforestation

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Climate Change

3.1.6Increasing Water Supply

3.1.7Sustainable Rainforest Management

3.2Globalisation & Migration

3.2.1Globalisation - Transport

3.2.2Globalisation - Communication Networks & Banking

3.2.3Push & Pull Factors

3.2.4TNCs & Globalisation

3.2.5Tourism Landscapes

3.2.6The Growth of Tourism

3.2.7The Economic Benefits of Tourism

3.2.8The Social & Cultural Benefits of Tourism

3.2.9The Economic Costs of Tourism

3.2.10The Social & Cultural Costs of Tourism

3.2.11Managing Tourism - Sustainability

3.2.12Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs

3.3Development & Human Welfare

3.3.1Ways of Defining Development

3.3.2Different Ways of Measuring Development

3.3.3Environmental Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.4Historical Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.5Economic Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.6Patterns of Development

3.3.7How Can we Reduce the Global Development Gap?

3.3.8Top-Down & Bottom-Up Development

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End of Topic Test - Coastal Environments

Structure of a Tropical Cyclone