What is a tropical cyclone?
Q: What is a tropical cyclone?
A: A tropical cyclone is a circular air movement that starts over the warm ocean waters in the warm part of Earth near the Equator.
Q: What are the dangers of tropical cyclones?
A: Tropical cyclones can be dangerous because of flooding and because the winds pick up objects, including things as big as small boats. Tropical cyclones can throw these things at high speeds.
Q: How do tropical cyclones form?
A: Tropical cyclones, hurricanes or typhoons form when convection causes warm, moist air above the ocean to rise. They begin as a group of storms when the water gets as hot as 80 °F (27 °C) or hotter.
Q: What causes the winds in a tropical cyclone to rotate?
A: The Coriolis effect made by the Earth's rotation causes the winds in a tropical cyclone to rotate.
Q: What is the "eye of the storm" in a tropical cyclone?
A: The "eye of the storm" in a tropical cyclone is the center. It has little rain or wind.
Q: What is the heaviest area of rain and fastest winds in a tropical cyclone?
A: The heaviest area of rain and fastest winds in a tropical cyclone is the eye wall.
Q: How are tropical cyclones powered?
A: Tropical cyclones are powered by warm, humid ocean air.
