Have you ever wondered what the difference between a typhoon, hurricane and cyclone? Well, there is no difference. Scientists just call them different things according to where they take place. In the Atlantic and Northern Pacific, the storms are called "Hurricanes" after the Caribbean of Evil, named Hurrican.
In the North Western Pacific the same powerful storms are called "Typhoons".
In the Southeastern Indian Ocean and Southwestern Pacific they are called "Severe Tropical Cyclones".
In the northern Indian Ocean, they're called "severe cyclonic storms."
In the southwestern Indian Ocean, they're just "tropical cyclones."
For a hurricane, typhoon or cyclone to be classified as a severe storm they must reach wind speeds of at least 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour).
How do hurricanes begin?
Hurricanes begin as tropical disturbances in warm ocean waters with surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.5 degrees Celsius). These low pressure systems are fed by energy from the warm seas. If a storm reaches wind speeds of 38 miles (61 kilometers) an hour, it becomes known as a tropical depression. A tropical depression forms when a low pressure area is accompanied by thunderstorms that produce a circular wind flow with maximum sustained winds below 39 mph (62.7644 kph).
What damage can a hurricane do?
A hurricane, cyclone or typhoon can cause the level to rise over the sea, by several meters. This rise in the water causes massive waves to hit the shores near the storm.
Overland, the hurricanes do a lot of damage, with powerful winds blasting the landscape. Heavy rains from the hurricane's clouds also cause flooding.
In the North Western Pacific the same powerful storms are called "Typhoons".
In the Southeastern Indian Ocean and Southwestern Pacific they are called "Severe Tropical Cyclones".
In the northern Indian Ocean, they're called "severe cyclonic storms."
In the southwestern Indian Ocean, they're just "tropical cyclones."
For a hurricane, typhoon or cyclone to be classified as a severe storm they must reach wind speeds of at least 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour).
How do hurricanes begin?
Hurricanes begin as tropical disturbances in warm ocean waters with surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.5 degrees Celsius). These low pressure systems are fed by energy from the warm seas. If a storm reaches wind speeds of 38 miles (61 kilometers) an hour, it becomes known as a tropical depression. A tropical depression forms when a low pressure area is accompanied by thunderstorms that produce a circular wind flow with maximum sustained winds below 39 mph (62.7644 kph).
What damage can a hurricane do?
A hurricane, cyclone or typhoon can cause the level to rise over the sea, by several meters. This rise in the water causes massive waves to hit the shores near the storm.
Overland, the hurricanes do a lot of damage, with powerful winds blasting the landscape. Heavy rains from the hurricane's clouds also cause flooding.
Click above to watch
a video about hurricanes
a video about hurricanes