Drilling isstorm tropical (or Hurricane) which corresponds to a low pressure system, that is, the pressure in this region is lower than in the surrounding areas. These areas are unstable and associated with cloud formation, humidity and strong winds. Usually hurricanes form over the oceans, in tropical areas, with temperatures above 26°C.
Hurricanes are meteorological phenomena that can cause huge undoing wherever they go. Meteorologists classify them according to wind speed and the damage done in the affected areas.
Read too:How are hurricane names chosen?
How is it formed?
According to the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC), a hurricane is formed when there is an encounter between a hurricane. downtown pressure and waters that have a temperature above 26°C, on the tropical oceans.
This meeting makes it possible to increase the evaporation of ocean waters. The moist, lighter air rises near the center and cools, forming large clouds, full of moisture. When water vapor undergoes condensation, it releases heat thanks to the change in the physical state from water.
The heat then heats the air, which rises again, causing the pressure reduction at the center of the system. Reducing pressure causes air to move to the center of the system, feeding it. According to CPTEC, the lower the pressure in the center of the system, the stronger the winds that revolve around it.
Thus, according to the researcher at the University of Campinas, professor doctor Ana Maria de Avila, the heat and humidity given by tropical waters are the ingredients for the formation of the hurricane, as they cause the air movement, then forming the tropical storm. If you are curious about the topic, read our text: How hurricanes form.
Read too: Difference between weather and climate
Hurricane Characteristics
Hurricanes have a center of closed circulation, in which the winds blow inward around him. That circulation is different in both hemispheress. In the Northern Hemisphere, winds rotate counterclockwise, and in the Southern Hemisphere, clockwise. To be classified as a hurricane, the winds must be above 119 km/h.
The formation of hurricanes, in addition to being associated with the temperature of tropical waters, also has specificities in relation to its area of formation. Generally these meteorological phenomena do not form near the equator line, because they need to be a little further away in order to feel the effects of rotation of the Earth, which help the winds to move around the center of low pressure.
The intensity of hurricanes is measured according to Saffir-Simpson scale, created in 1970 by engineer Hebert Saffir and the director of the US National Hurricane Center at that time. The scale describes the category, you damage and the velocity of the winds. The categories range from 1 to 5, and the damage, of minimal to catastrophic.
See more:Why the United States is so hit by hurricanes?
hurricane and tornado
Tornadoes are funnel-shaped eddies formed by means of a storm.
Hurricanes and tornadoes are not synonymous. As already noted, a hurricane is a low pressure system with closed wind circulation. already the tornado is a whirlwind of strong winds formed, in the midst of a storm, in like a funnel. The latter, when reaching the surface, is capable of causing a lot of destruction, its winds can reach more than 400 km/h.
The main differences between hurricane and tornado are its training place, as hurricanes form over tropical waters and tornadoes form on the continent, as well as its duration, since tornadoes last much less than a hurricane. The last ones last about minutes, are around 100 m to 600 m in diameter and cover approximately 500 to 1500 meters, according to CPTEC.
hurricane and typhoon
Hurricane and typhoon are examples of tropical storms, therefore are the same phenomenon. What differentiates them is yours place of origin and yours intensity. When these storms form in the eastern portion of the Pacific Ocean or in the Atlantic Ocean, are called a hurricane. When they form in the western portion of the Pacific, specifically in the region of the Asian continent, are called a typhoon. Are you more interested in this subject? Read our text: hurricane and typhoon.
See too: The effects of typhoon Haiyan
biggest hurricanes in the world
→ Katrina
Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans region of the United States.
O Katrina hurricane it hit the east coast of the United States, especially destroying the New Orleans region, in 2005. the hurricane hit category 3, with winds of approximately 280 km/h. In addition to causing the destruction of several areas, Katrina also caused the death of about 1800 people, being, therefore, considered one of the worst hurricanes in recent times.
→ Sister
Hurricane Irma is considered the largest ever formed in the Atlantic Ocean and caused damage in the Caribbean region and the United States.
O hurricane sister it reached the state of Florida, in the United States, in 2017, and was considered the largest ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane hit the category 5, therefore, was able to provoke catastrophic damage. The winds reached 297 km/h in the Caribbean region.
This hurricane formed on August 30, 2017 and was initially classified in category 2. About 24 hours later, it moved to category 3, until it reached category 5, on September 5th. The hurricane hit several regions of the Caribbean and the United States, causing about 90 deaths.
→ Michael
Hurricane Michael passed through several countries in Central America, leaving trails of destruction.*
O hurricane Michael it graduated in October 2018 over the Caribbean Sea and headed for the east coast of the United States. classified in category 4, this meteorological phenomenon presented winds of up to 250 km/h, causing a lot of destruction in the areas it passed through. Some dozens of people died, and about 370,000 people in Florida received evacuation notices.
Hurricanes in Brazil
Hurricane Catarina, which occurred in Brazil, left hundreds of people homeless in the Xanxere region of Santa Catarina.**
Many people believe that Brazil cannot be hit by a hurricane. A mistake. Despite being an uncommon phenomenon in the country, cases have already been registered. The best known occurred in 2004, in South region Brazil, specifically in the state of Santa Catarina.
Some scholars disagree that the tropical storm is classified as a hurricane, however this was classified in the category 2 and its winds reached about 180 km/h. O hurricane catarina, as it was called, was the first to be officially registered in the South Atlantic. About 20 thousand people were left homeless and there were 11 deaths registered.
*Image credits: terry kelly / Shutterstock
**Image Credits: Nantoine / Shutterstock
by Rafaela Sousa
Graduated in Geography
