GEOL 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Intertropical Convergence Zone, Bhola District
Document Summary
Cyclone - a low pressure area with closed circulation. Tropical cyclones - lows that develop over tropical waters. Tropical cyclones get their energy through evaporating and condensing warm ocean water. More importantly the intertropical convergence zone (doldrums) Start with westward traveling low pressure troughs (tropical waves) These may begin to spin, form a tropical disturbance. If the system becomes well organized it"s labeled a tropical depression. When winds exceed 34 knots (39 mph) it is a tropical storm and is giving a tracking name. When winds exceed 64 knots (74 mph) it is a classified a hurricane in the atlantic and eastern pacific. Typhoons in the western pacific and cyclones in the indian ocean are the same as hurricanes. Center of eye is what is tracked, but the entire storm is much larger. 5 categories of hurricane strength (table 10. 1 in textbook) Surge and rainfall not used because they are dependent on factors beside windspeed.
