Tropical Cyclones (Difference) | Geography for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
DIFFERENCE  
 
Tropical Cyclone 
 
Temperate 
Cyclone 
Origin 
 
Thermal Origin Dynamic Origin – 
Coriolis Force, 
Movement of air 
masses. 
Latitude 
 
Confined to 10
0
 – 
30
0
 N and S of 
equator. 
 
Confined to 35
0
 – 
65
0
 N and S of 
equator.  
Frontal system 
 
Absent Occluded Front 
Formation 
 
They form only on 
seas . 
Can form both on 
land as well as seas 
Size 
 
Limited to small 
area. 
Typical size: 100 – 
500 kms in 
diameter. 
 
They cover a 
larger area. 
Typical size: 300 – 
2000 kms in 
diameter.  
Page 2


 
 
DIFFERENCE  
 
Tropical Cyclone 
 
Temperate 
Cyclone 
Origin 
 
Thermal Origin Dynamic Origin – 
Coriolis Force, 
Movement of air 
masses. 
Latitude 
 
Confined to 10
0
 – 
30
0
 N and S of 
equator. 
 
Confined to 35
0
 – 
65
0
 N and S of 
equator.  
Frontal system 
 
Absent Occluded Front 
Formation 
 
They form only on 
seas . 
Can form both on 
land as well as seas 
Size 
 
Limited to small 
area. 
Typical size: 100 – 
500 kms in 
diameter. 
 
They cover a 
larger area. 
Typical size: 300 – 
2000 kms in 
diameter.  
 
 
Shape 
 
Elliptical Inverted ‘V’ 
Rainfall 
 
If the cyclone stays 
at a place, the 
rainfall may 
continue for many 
days. 
In a temperate 
cyclone, rainfall is 
slow and continues 
for many days, 
sometimes even 
weeks. 
Wind Velocity 
and destruction 
 
Much greater (100 
– 250 kmph)(200 – 
1200 kmph in 
upper troposphere) 
Greater destruction 
due to winds, 
storm surges and 
torrential rains. 
 
Comparatively 
low. Typical 
range: 30 – 150 
kmph. 
Less destruction 
due to winds but 
more destruction 
due to flooding. 
 
Isobars 
 
pressure gradient is 
steep 
pressure gradient is 
low. 
Life time 
 
Doesn’t last for 
more than a week 
 
Last for 2-3 weeks. 
 
Temperature 
distribution 
 
The temperature at 
the center is almost 
equally distributed. 
All the sectors of 
the cyclone have 
Page 3


 
 
DIFFERENCE  
 
Tropical Cyclone 
 
Temperate 
Cyclone 
Origin 
 
Thermal Origin Dynamic Origin – 
Coriolis Force, 
Movement of air 
masses. 
Latitude 
 
Confined to 10
0
 – 
30
0
 N and S of 
equator. 
 
Confined to 35
0
 – 
65
0
 N and S of 
equator.  
Frontal system 
 
Absent Occluded Front 
Formation 
 
They form only on 
seas . 
Can form both on 
land as well as seas 
Size 
 
Limited to small 
area. 
Typical size: 100 – 
500 kms in 
diameter. 
 
They cover a 
larger area. 
Typical size: 300 – 
2000 kms in 
diameter.  
 
 
Shape 
 
Elliptical Inverted ‘V’ 
Rainfall 
 
If the cyclone stays 
at a place, the 
rainfall may 
continue for many 
days. 
In a temperate 
cyclone, rainfall is 
slow and continues 
for many days, 
sometimes even 
weeks. 
Wind Velocity 
and destruction 
 
Much greater (100 
– 250 kmph)(200 – 
1200 kmph in 
upper troposphere) 
Greater destruction 
due to winds, 
storm surges and 
torrential rains. 
 
Comparatively 
low. Typical 
range: 30 – 150 
kmph. 
Less destruction 
due to winds but 
more destruction 
due to flooding. 
 
Isobars 
 
pressure gradient is 
steep 
pressure gradient is 
low. 
Life time 
 
Doesn’t last for 
more than a week 
 
Last for 2-3 weeks. 
 
Temperature 
distribution 
 
The temperature at 
the center is almost 
equally distributed. 
All the sectors of 
the cyclone have 
 
 
different 
temperatures 
Calm region 
 
The center of a 
tropical cyclone is 
known as the eye. 
The wind is calm 
at the center with 
no rainfall. 
In a temperate 
cyclone, there is 
not a single place 
where winds and 
rains are inactive. 
  
 
Driving force 
 
latent heat of 
condensation  
densities of air 
masses. 
Clouds 
 
 
The tropical 
cyclones exhibit 
fewer varieties of 
clouds – 
cumulonimbus, 
nimbostratus, etc.. 
 
The temperate 
cyclones show a 
variety of cloud 
development at 
various elevations. 
Page 4


 
 
DIFFERENCE  
 
Tropical Cyclone 
 
Temperate 
Cyclone 
Origin 
 
Thermal Origin Dynamic Origin – 
Coriolis Force, 
Movement of air 
masses. 
Latitude 
 
Confined to 10
0
 – 
30
0
 N and S of 
equator. 
 
Confined to 35
0
 – 
65
0
 N and S of 
equator.  
Frontal system 
 
Absent Occluded Front 
Formation 
 
They form only on 
seas . 
Can form both on 
land as well as seas 
Size 
 
Limited to small 
area. 
Typical size: 100 – 
500 kms in 
diameter. 
 
They cover a 
larger area. 
Typical size: 300 – 
2000 kms in 
diameter.  
 
 
Shape 
 
Elliptical Inverted ‘V’ 
Rainfall 
 
If the cyclone stays 
at a place, the 
rainfall may 
continue for many 
days. 
In a temperate 
cyclone, rainfall is 
slow and continues 
for many days, 
sometimes even 
weeks. 
Wind Velocity 
and destruction 
 
Much greater (100 
– 250 kmph)(200 – 
1200 kmph in 
upper troposphere) 
Greater destruction 
due to winds, 
storm surges and 
torrential rains. 
 
Comparatively 
low. Typical 
range: 30 – 150 
kmph. 
Less destruction 
due to winds but 
more destruction 
due to flooding. 
 
Isobars 
 
pressure gradient is 
steep 
pressure gradient is 
low. 
Life time 
 
Doesn’t last for 
more than a week 
 
Last for 2-3 weeks. 
 
Temperature 
distribution 
 
The temperature at 
the center is almost 
equally distributed. 
All the sectors of 
the cyclone have 
 
 
different 
temperatures 
Calm region 
 
The center of a 
tropical cyclone is 
known as the eye. 
The wind is calm 
at the center with 
no rainfall. 
In a temperate 
cyclone, there is 
not a single place 
where winds and 
rains are inactive. 
  
 
Driving force 
 
latent heat of 
condensation  
densities of air 
masses. 
Clouds 
 
 
The tropical 
cyclones exhibit 
fewer varieties of 
clouds – 
cumulonimbus, 
nimbostratus, etc.. 
 
The temperate 
cyclones show a 
variety of cloud 
development at 
various elevations. 
 
 
Influence on 
India 
 
Both coasts 
effected. But east 
coast is the hot 
spot. 
Bring rains to 
North – West 
India. The 
associated 
instability is called 
‘Western 
Disturbances ’.