In this blog let us learn the difference between tropical and temperate cyclones.

 

Do you know who coined the term cyclone?

 

The term Cyclone was first coined at Calcutta in AD 1848 by Henry Paddington. It is derived from the Greek word �Kyklos� meaning the coil of a snake.

 

So what is a Cyclone?

 

A cyclone represents a low-pressure system at the center surrounded by high pressure. Cyclones are common both in tropical and temperate regions.

 

Difference Between Tropical and Temperate Cyclones

 

The Tropical Cyclones

 

The Tropical cyclones are seasonal and occur in the latter part of the summer season because of the movement of the Doldrum belt away from the Equator. They are actually of thermal origin, i.e. they are formed due to unequal heating of land and water.

 

The air above the warm sea is heated and rises. This causes low pressure. The weather system produces heat which increases the wind speed. These cause the tropical cyclone to sustain themselves. These usually originate in the tropical region between 80 and 200N and S.

Can you imagine how Tropical Cyclones look?

 

They are mostly circular with low pressure in the center. They have strong winds blowing at the rate of 100-150 km/h are common. The center part of the storm is known as the eye of a cyclone. This area is usually calm with light winds, no rain, and a clear sky.

Tropical cyclones are called by different names in different parts of the world. They are called Typhoons in the South China Sea, Hurricanes in the Caribbean sea, Willy Willer in North Australia, and Tornadoes in the USA.

 

In the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea, they cause great damage as they are strong winds even though their range is small.

 

Temperate Cyclones

 

These cyclones are active over the mid-latitudinal region between 350 latitudes and 650 latitudes in both hemispheres. These are also known as extratropical or wave cyclones.

 

Can you guess how they are different from Tropical Cyclones?

 

Unlike tropical cyclones which are produced and developed mainly over the sea, temperate cyclones are produced both on land and on the sea. Whereas the tropical cyclones are limited to a small area and usually travel from east to west, the temperate cyclones occupy areas measuring thousands of kilometers and move from west to east.

 

In these cyclones, wind speed is low and all the sectors of the cyclone have different temperatures. The rainfall is light and usually continues for many days. Temperate cyclones are of frontal origin. This means that Temperate cyclones or Temperate depressions are formed in the zone where the warm westerlies meet the cold Polar winds.

The plane where cold and warm air masses meet is known as the front. Temperate cyclones are experienced in the northwestern part of India during the winter season.

 

Questions

 

1. Temperate cyclones are active over which mid-latitudinal region in both the hemispheres?
(i) 300 and 600 latitude
(ii) 450 and 650 latitude
(iii) 250 and 650 latitude
(iv) 350 and 650 latitude

 

2. When do Tropical cyclones occur?
(i) Initial summer
(ii) Intital spring
(iii) Later winter
(iv) Later summer

 

3. What is the center of a cyclone popularly called?
(i) Bull�s eye
(ii) Centre of a cyclone.
(iii) Rear of a cyclone
(iv) Eye of a cyclone

 

4. Where do temperate cyclones develop?
(i) Land
(ii) Sea
(iii) Sky
(iv) Land and Sea

 

5. In which direction Tropical cyclone travels?
(i) West to East
(ii) North to South
(iii) South to North
(iv) East to West

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