Tropical Cyclones

• Low pressure - lower mass of air close to the earths surface caused by air rising
• Source Areas - places where tropical storms form over warm oceans, which in some cases lead to tropical cyclones
• Coriolis effect - rotational force that affects liquids and gases caused by the earths rotation
• condensation - gas turning into liquids
• intensify - the process of tropical cyclones growing in size, wind speed and rainfall levels as they gain energy
• dissipation - when having no energy source will reduce wind speeds, rotation and rainfall, final stage of tropical cyclones
• track - where the tropical cyclone travels due to the direction of the prevailing winds and ocean currents
• eye wall - area around eye with strongest winds and heaviest rains
• eye - calm centre of tropical cyclone surrounded by strong winds and heavy rain
• shear winds - constant and stable winds
• warm water needs to be at least 26.5 degrees Celsius
• Hurricane – is used for North America, Atlantic and Pacific coast of the USA 

  Cyclone – used in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans 

  Typhoons – used in the Western North Pacific 
• Cyclone season: October-May in the Southern Hemisphere, December-April in the Northern Hemisphere