Cyclones

CYCLONES
&
ANTICYCLONES
CYCLONES AND ANTICYCLONES
• High-Pressure Wind Patterns: A high-pressure center is known as an
anticyclone.
• The air circulates in an clockwise direction in the Northern
hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
• Low-Pressure Wind Patterns: Low-pressure centers are called cyclones.
• Cyclones are rapid inward air circulation around a low-
pressure area.
• The air circulates in an anticlockwise direction in the
Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern
hemisphere.
• Cyclones are usually accompanied by violent storms and
bad weather.
Vertical Movement within Cyclones
and Anticyclones:
• A prominent vertical component
of air movement is also
associated with cyclones and
anticyclones.
• Air descends in anticyclones and
rises in cyclones.
• Cyclones and rising air are
associated with clouds, whereas
anticyclones and descending air
are associated with clear
conditions.
Classification
Of
Cyclones
Cyclones may be classified as
a) Temperate cyclones.
b) Tropical cyclones.
TROPICAL CYCLONES
• It is a weather system of low pressure, originating in the tropics within
a single air mass, but may move into temperate waters if water
temperature is high enough to sustain it.
• The temperature of the top layer of the sea, up to a
depth of about 60 meters, need to be at least 28°C to
support the formation of a cyclone.
• Tropical cyclone gets its energy from latent heat of condensation.
• It is characterized by low atmospheric pressure,
high winds, and heavy rain.
• They may be a thousand kilometers in diameter and about 15km in
height.
• Continuous supply
of moisture from the sea is
the major driving force
behind every cyclone. On
reaching the land
the moisture supply is cut
off and the storm dissipates.
• The central area is designated as an
‘eye’ of cyclone. The eye of cyclone
is surrounded by clouds so high and
dense that the day time sky above
looks dark.
• They give torrential rainfall.
• The tropical cyclones originate
between 10o and 25 degree
latitudes in both the hemispheres.
Conditions conducive
for tropical cyclone
I. There should be continuous supply of abundant warm
and moist air.
II. The sea temperature in lower latitude should be
around 26-27 degree C.
III. Existence of weak tropical depression.
IV. There should be presence of coriolis force.
V. High humidity in the lower to middle levels of the
troposphere.
What is the difference between
"hurricane", "cyclone" and
"typhoon"?
• In the western North Atlantic, central and eastern North
Pacific, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, such a weather
phenomenon is called "hurricanes".
• In the western North Pacific, it is called "typhoons"
• In the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, it is called "cyclones"
• In western South Pacific and southeast India Ocean, it is
called “severe tropical cyclones”
• In the southwest India Ocean, it is called “tropical
cyclones”.
Temperate cyclones
• Temperate cyclones, also known
as mid-latitude or extratropical
cyclones, are large-scale
weather systems that form
outside the tropics, typically
between 30° and 60° latitude.
• These cyclones are
characterized by a low-pressure
center, strong winds, and a mix
of weather conditions, including
rain, snow, and thunderstorms.
• They form along the polar front
where cold polar air masses
meet warm tropical air masses.
The temperature contrast
• These cyclones can bring a variety of weather
conditions, including heavy rain, snow, and strong
winds.
• They are responsible for much of the precipitation in
the mid-latitudes.
• They typically move from west to east, driven by the
prevailing westerlies in the mid-latitudes.
• Temperate cyclones can cause significant weather
disruptions, including heavy rainfall, flooding, and
snowstorms, affecting transportation and daily life.
• Cyclogenesis: Development and strengthening of mid latitude wave
cyclone is known as cyclogenesis. This is called the polar front theory
What are Anticyclones?
• An anticyclone, also known as a high-pressure
system, is essentially an area of high pressure in which
the air goes downwards towards the Earth’s surface.
• As the air sinks, its molecules get compressed, which
increases the pressure, making it warmer. This causes
dry and hot weather.
• The winds remain calm and gentle during an
anticyclone, and there is almost no formation of clouds
because here the air sinks rather than rises.

Cyclones

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CYCLONES

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