Consider the following statement about tropical cyclone1. It is chara...
- A tropical cyclone is a storm system, characterised by a low-pressure centre surrounded by a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain.
- A characteristic feature of tropical cyclones is the eye, a central region of clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure.
- Typically, atmospheric pressure at the surface of Earth is about 1,000 millibars. At the centre of a tropical cyclone, however, it is typically around 960 millibars, and in a very intense “super typhoon” of the western Pacific it may be as low as 880 millibars.
- In addition to low pressure at the centre, there is also a rapid variation of pressure across the storm, with most of the variation occurring near the centre.
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Consider the following statement about tropical cyclone1. It is chara...
Statement 1: It is characterised by a low-pressure centre.
Tropical cyclones are characterized by a low-pressure center, also known as the eye of the storm. The low-pressure center is the region where the air rises rapidly, creating an area of low atmospheric pressure. This low-pressure center is surrounded by a rotating system of strong winds and thunderstorms, known as the eyewall. As the air rises in the eyewall, it cools and condenses, releasing large amounts of energy in the form of heat and moisture. This energy fuels the cyclone and helps it to intensify.
Statement 2: In this, counter clockwise wind flow in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise wind flow in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere have opposite rotational directions due to the Coriolis effect. In the Northern Hemisphere, tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise. The Coriolis effect is caused by the rotation of the Earth and influences the direction of moving objects, including air masses. As air flows towards the low-pressure center of a tropical cyclone, the Coriolis effect causes it to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection leads to the rotation of the cyclone in the respective hemispheres.
Statement 3: It is a warm core storm system.
Tropical cyclones are warm core storm systems, meaning that the highest temperatures in the system are found near the center or eye of the storm. As the air rises rapidly in the eyewall of the cyclone, it cools and condenses, releasing heat energy. This heat energy warms the air in the eye, creating a region of relatively warm temperatures compared to the surrounding environment. The warm core of the storm is essential for sustaining the cyclone's strength and intensification.
Conclusion:
All three statements are correct. Tropical cyclones are characterized by a low-pressure center, exhibit counterclockwise wind flow in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise wind flow in the Southern Hemisphere, and are warm core storm systems.
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