Typhoon

Typhoon

A Typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the western part of the North Pacific Ocean between 180° and 100°E. This region is referred to as the Northwest Pacific basin. For organizational purposes, the northern hemisphere's tropical cyclones are divided into three regions: the Atlantic (the Atlantic Ocean), the East Pacific (the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean), and the West Pacific (the western part of the Pacific Ocean).

Etymology

The term "typhoon" is the regional name in the northwest Pacific for a severe (or mature) tropical cyclone, whereas "hurricane" is the regional term in the northeast Pacific and northern Atlantic. Elsewhere this is called a tropical cyclone, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone.

Formation

Typhoons are formed from tropical cyclones, which themselves form over warm ocean waters. The warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface. Because this air moves up and away from the surface, there is less air left near the surface. This causes an area of lower air pressure below.

Impact

Typhoons can cause significant damage to human life and property. They can produce high winds, heavy rain, and storm surges. In addition, they can trigger landslides and flooding. The impact of typhoons can be particularly severe in densely populated coastal regions.

Prevention and Mitigation

While it is not possible to prevent typhoons, measures can be taken to mitigate their impact. These include the construction of storm surge barriers, the implementation of early warning systems, and the development of disaster preparedness plans.

See Also

• Tropical cyclone
• Hurricane
• Cyclone
• Storm surge
• Landslide
• Flood