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Tropical storms are one of the most powerful weather hazards on Earth. Known as hurricanes (Atlantic/NE Pacific), typhoons (NW Pacific), or cyclones (Indian Ocean/South Pacific), these storms can bring devastating winds, torrential rain, and coastal flooding. This lesson covers their formation, effects, and responses, using Typhoon Haiyan (2013) as a key case study.
Tropical storms form over warm tropical oceans under specific conditions:
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sea temperature | Must be at least 27 °C to a depth of 60–70 metres |
| Location | Between 5° and 30° from the equator (Coriolis effect needed to spin the storm) |
| Low wind shear | Little change in wind speed/direction with altitude (otherwise the storm is torn apart) |
| Atmospheric instability | Warm, moist air must be able to rise rapidly and continuously |
| Time of year | Late summer/autumn when ocean temperatures are highest |
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