This is an image of hurricane Isabel taken from space in the year 2003.According to the Britannica Online Encylopedia, a tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain. Drawing energy from the sea surface and maintaining its strength as long as it remains over warm water, a tropical cyclone generates winds that exceed 119 km (74 miles) per hour. In extreme cases winds may exceed 240 km (150 miles) per hour, and gusts may surpass 320 km (200 miles) per hour. Accompanying these strong winds are torrential rains and a devastating phenomenon known as the storm surge, an elevation of the sea surface that can reach 6 metres (20 feet) above normal levels. Such a combination of high winds and water makes cyclones a serious hazard for coastal areas in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.
Depending on their location and strength, tropical cyclones are referred to by other names, such as hurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression and simply cyclone.
The structure of a tropical cyclone. Click on the image to see a larger picture.
More recently, a devastating cyclone named Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar and caused catastophic destruction. An estimated 100,000 people have died since Cyclone Nargis struck on the 2nd of May 2008. Experts warn that the death toll may very well rise with the onset of diseases like cholera and malaria, not to mention widespread hunger.
Read more about cyclones here:
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