Typhoon Vs. Hurricane Vs. Cyclone: What You Need to Know

Statistics show that a total of 158 hurricanes have hit the US in the twentieth century, claiming thousands of lives. How do you define a hurricane? Is it any different from a cyclone or a typhoon? Read the following article which highlights typhoon vs. hurricane vs. cyclone.
Looking at their histories, typhoons, hurricanes and cyclones have damaged several places and taken innumerable lives. Have you ever given it a thought, why do these natural calamities occur? These storm systems are actually similar weather phenomena, although their strength may vary according to the atmospheric conditions present and certain other factors related to their epicenters. Let's further compare them, by learning about their characteristics, process of formation, difference in location of origination and rotational direction.

Typhoon, Hurricane and Cyclone

Prerequisites for Formation
A hurricane, a typhoon or a cyclone are all cyclical tropical storms which originate in the oceans, from 10 to 30 degrees away from the equator. The following weather conditions may give rise to a cyclone, hurricane or a typhoon.
  1. A low pressure belt formed over the ocean
  2. A rise in the temperature of the ocean water above 26.5 degrees Celsius
  3. Presence of high velocity winds of at least 119 Km per hour.
When a low pressure belt is formed over the ocean, moist air, replete with water vapors, rises up from the warm ocean waters. These water vapors condense high up in the air, thereby producing a lot of heat. The powerful winds then eat into this heat, thus producing a circular wind system with a warm core. This circular wind system is known as either a typhoon, a hurricane or a cyclone. It is accompanied by torrential rains, thunderstorms, high waves and sometimes even tornadoes.

Difference in the Location of Epicenters
The name of the storm system varies according to the place of origin of these storms.
  • Cyclones - Storms are called cyclones if they are formed over the Indian Ocean and Southwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Africa and Australia.
  • Typhoon - Storms are called typhoons if they are formed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean i.e. near Asia.
  • Hurricane - Storms are referred to as hurricanes if formed in Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean i.e., near Gulf of Mexico and America.
Let's compare by taking real life examples. Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in 2008 was called a cyclone, as its location was the northern Indian Ocean. Typhoon Vera which hit Japan in 1959 was called a typhoon, as its location was northwestern Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Katrina which hit USA in 2005 and claimed an estimated 1800 lives is called a hurricane, as its location was the Atlantic ocean.

Difference in Rotational Direction
Even though there is no difference in their speeds, looking at hurricane pictures or the various cyclone pictures available, thanks to the images from a satellite, scientists have discovered that the cyclical direction of the wind varies in different hemispheres. Hurricanes and typhoons which are generated in the northern hemisphere are characterized by the anticlockwise direction of the winds, around the center or the eye of the storm. Hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones which are generated in the southern hemisphere are characterized by the clockwise rotation of the winds around the storm center. For example, a hurricane in USA will always be characterized by counterclockwise direction of the winds as it lies in the northern hemisphere, whereas a cyclone in Australia will produce clockwise winds as it lies in the southern hemisphere.

Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons can last for a day or stretch to a month. If we compare the history of typhoons, hurricanes and cyclones, we can see that they have been equally responsible for creating destruction and loss in different regions of the world, especially when they reach the populated coastal lands. So the best way to prevent them is to lower the air and water temperatures worldwide by following environment friendly policies like increasing the green cover and cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.