Cyclone is a system of swirling winds which has a low pressure area in the center. the wind tends to circulate towards the center and produce rain with thunder and lightening. The winds have erosive power which destroys everything that comes in its way.
Tropical cyclones develop in tropical ocean at least 5° - 30° latitude north or south of the equator, where the sea temperature is at least 27 °C.
Tropical cyclones are important on Earth for transferring heat and energy between the equator and the poles. Low pressure occurs either side of the equator and together with the air heated over the warm tropical ocean, results in thundery showers. Occasionally, these thundery showers group together creating rapidly rising warm air which leads to the development of a low pressure centre.
Several conditions are needed for a tropical cyclone to form:
- High sea temperatures of at least 27°C.
- Converging winds near the ocean surface forcing air to rise and form storm clouds.
- Sufficient distance from the equator for a spin such as the Coriolis force to take effect.
As winds spin inwards and upwards releasing heat and moisture, a cylinder of deep thunderclouds form around a cloud free centre of subsiding air which is often dry with little wind, this is referred to as the eye.
The energy which drives a tropical cyclone is transferred as warm water is evaporated from the tropical ocean. As the air descends, almost all of the stored energy is released by condensation. This release of heat energy warms the air and the pressure decreases further resulting in air rising faster to fill the area of low pressure. As the air rises; warmer, moist air from the ocean is driven into the system creating further energy and resulting in the tropical cyclone becoming a self- sufficient system. If the tropical cyclone travels over land, the energy source (tropical ocean) is lost which results in the eventual breakdown of the storm.