tropical cyclones result in significant fatalities. Even though tropical cyclones may be exciting to watch, they can be very dangerous. Luckyly they only occur under very specific conditions in certain places in the world, these conditions are:
- warm waters: this is necessary because tropical cyclones are powered by the release of heat from the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere.
- Wind speed is the change in wind speed or direction with height in the atmosphere. So?
- Low preasure: winds blowing towards the low pressure center of the storm creates circulation.
The warm, moist air over the ocean rises from near the surface causing an area of lower air pressure below.
(cumulonimbus cloud)
evaporating from the surface.As the storm system rotates faster and faster, an eye forms in the center. It is very calm and clear in the eye, with very low air pressure.
They are identified with different names, prepared in alphabetical order and alternated form between male and female names. For example this list of storm names from 1999 to 2004.
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
Arlene
|
Alberto
|
Allison
|
Arthur
|
Ana
|
Alex
|
Bret
|
Beryl
|
Barry
|
Bertha
|
Bill
|
Bonnie
|
Cindy
|
Chris
|
Chantal
|
Cristobal
|
Claudette
|
Charley
|
Dennis
|
Debby
|
Dean
|
Dolly
|
Danny
|
Danielle
|
Emily
|
Ernesto
|
Erin
|
Edouard
|
Erika
|
Earl
|
Floyd
|
Florence
|
Felix
|
Fay
|
Fabian
|
Frances
|
Gert
|
Gordon
|
Gabrielle
|
Gustav
|
Grace
|
Gaston
|
Harvey
|
Helene
|
Humberto
|
Hanna
|
Henri
|
Hermine
|
Irene
|
Isaac
|
Iris
|
Isidore
|
Isabel
|
Ivan
|
Jose
|
Joyce
|
Jerry
|
Josephine
|
Juan
|
Jeanne
|
Katrina
|
Keith
|
Karen
|
Kyle
|
Kate
|
Karl
|
Lenny
|
Leslie
|
Lorenzo
|
Lili
|
Larry
|
Lisa
|
Maria
|
Michael
|
Michelle
|
Marco
|
Mindy
|
Matthew
|
Nate
|
Nadine
|
Noel
|
Nana
|
Nicholas
|
Nicole
|
Ophelia
|
Oscar
|
Olga
|
Omar
|
Odette
|
Otto
|
Philippe
|
Patty
|
Pablo
|
Paloma
|
Peter
|
Paula
|
Rita
|
Rafael
|
Rebekah
|
Rene
|
Rose
|
Richard
|
Stan
|
Sandy
|
Sebastien
|
Sally
|
Sam
|
Shary
|
Tammy
|
Tony
|
Tanya
|
Teddy
|
Teresa
|
Tomas
|
Vince
|
Valerie
|
Van
|
Vicky
|
Victor
|
Virginie
|
Wilma
|
William
|
Wendy
|
Wilfred
|
Wanda
|
Walter
|
they are also diferenced by the intensity and the damage they cause, it is shown with a scale that goes from 1 to 5.
CATEGORY 1
Smal house damage. Damage to some crops and trees.
Strongest winds 90 - 125 km/h.
CATEGORY 2
Minor house damage. Significant damage to sings and trees. Heavy damage to some crops. Risk of power failure.
Strongest winds are DESTRUCTIVE 125 - 164 km/h.
CATEGORY 3
Some roof and structural damage. Power failures likely.
Strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE 165 - 224 km/h.
CATEGORY 4
Significant roofing loss and structural damage. Widespread power failures.
Strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE 225 - 279 km/h.
CATEGORY 5
Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction.
Strongest winds are VERY DESTRUCTIVE 280 km/h.
In order to reduce the damage some actions can be taken:
- implementation of wind resistance design in buildings
- Drills
- boarding up windows and doors
- store food and water somewhere
- Radio in case of evacuation alarm