The Requirements & Life Cycle of a Cyclone
The Natural Disaster – Cyclone Yasi is a Tropical Cyclone that took place in North Queensland on Early 3rd of February 2011. A Tropical Cyclone is a low-pressure system, which forms over warm tropical waters. There are some requirements for a tropical cyclone to develop:
1. Water should be around 26.5° Celsius.
2. Ocean depth should be around 50 Meters depth in order to supply enough evaporating moisture.
3. Between 5° & 15° Latitude from the equator.
4. There must be an existing low-pressure area such as the monsoon trough.
If these conditions are met, a tropical cyclone may form over the ocean. There are 4 Stages of the life cycle of a tropical cyclone, which is:
1. Formative – Clouds start forming over the ocean between 5° & 15° latitude from the equator.
2. Immature – If the conditions are favorable, clouds collect and move with the winds that start rotating clockwise around a low-pressure area. Winds start to increase in strength.
3. Mature – The cyclone reaches its peak of intensity and destructive power.
4. Decaying – The Power of the cyclone decreases when it moves over land or pole ward over colder waters. In this decaying stage he winds often decrease rapidly and the cyclone eye and cloud patterns disappear.
Jesse Mora ©