How Are Typhoons Made?
Typhoons are the name for hurricanes in China and the Philippines, according to the Center for Educational Technologies. Typhoons always form over warm, moist tropical waters near the Equator. Typhoons are tropical cyclones formed from low pressure systems over tropical waters, according to the National Ocean Atmospheric Administration. If a tropical cyclone has winds below 74 mph, it's called a tropical storm, but with winds over 74 mph, it's termed a cyclone or hurricane.
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Function
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Typhoons form when moisture evaporates from the ocean and rises until it reaches large quantities of heated air in the atmosphere, according to the Center for Educational Technologies. This warm air then begins to circle clockwise and forms the eye of the typhoon. The wind around the eye of the typhoon reaches speeds between 74 and 200 mph.
Considerations
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Typhoons continue to grow in size and power as long as they preside over water that is 79 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, according to the Center for Educational Technologies. As a typhoon begins to cross land, it loses its strength and power because it can longer absorb moisture from the water. Typhoons typically form in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico or Central America.
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Size
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Typhoons are typically 300 miles wide, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. The eye of a typhoon is relatively small and ranges from 20 to 40 miles. Typhoons have outer bands that range from 50 to 300 miles in length and are 10 miles wide.
Quick Facts
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Hurricanes that form east of the international date line are called hurricanes, while hurricanes that form west of the line are called typhoons, according to the Center for Educational Technologies. Typhoon Songa was a deadly typhoon that formed in autumn of 2004 and injured more than 700 people and caused more than 20 deaths, according to BBC News.
Warning
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Typhoons are the strongest during late summer and early fall, according to the Center for Educational Technologies.
Categories
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The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale is used to classify the strength of hurricanes, according to the National Ocean Atmospheric Administration. Category 1 hurricanes are the weakest hurricanes and have winds between 74 and 96 mph. Category 5 hurricanes are the strongest hurricanes and have winds of more than 155 mph.
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References
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- Photo Credit storm image by Boguslaw Florjan from Fotolia.com
