Hurricane, tornado, tornado, typhoon, what’s the difference? Science answers!

Recently, Santa Catarina issued a crash risk warning due to heavy rains in the state and hurricane passage through the area. To contain, Brazil’s southern region is responsible for seven out of every ten hurricane warnings registered in the country, experts say in last decade; A total of 71 of the 92 incidents that occurred during the period were recorded.

According to analyzed data G1Santa Catarina recorded 64 warnings between 2013 and August 2023; In the meteorologist’s statement ClimateFábio Luengo, the South is the region most affected by extratropical cyclones. located in an area where air masses meet, However, he says that the intensity and frequency of these natural events are not that common.

Unfortunately, in September, Rio Grande do Sul experienced the state’s worst extratropical cyclone-related tragedy, with more than 40 deaths related to the event recorded.

Three main factors can be held responsible for climate events: climate change caused by humanity; warming of the Atlantic Ocean; and consequences of El Niño. However, it is important to emphasize that rain events and hurricanes are different from hurricanes, tornadoes and typhoons that occur in other parts of the planet.

To further explain the differences between hurricane, cyclone, cyclone, and typhoon, TecMundo gathered information from scientists and experts in the field. Check out!

What are cyclones?

Extratropical cyclones are more common in Brazil and occur in enclosed areas with low atmospheric pressure.Clockwise movements of the Southern Hemisphere, with concentrations of moisture and warm air forming charged clouds.

Although considered a devastating event in many parts of the world, cyclones are common and act as temperature regulators between the South and North poles. Cyclones are divided into three categories: tropical, extratropical and subtropical.

extratropical

Extratropical cyclones are characterized by their low pressure and are most common in Brazil, as they tend to occur in mid- and high-latitude regions of the planet. Them It occurs due to the temperature difference between cold air and warm air moving in opposite directions.ultimately colliding and creating a natural phenomenon.

The extratropical event is characterized by winds that can range from weak to intense and rains that often result in flooding, severe thunderstorms, landslides, drops in temperature, and other features.

“They promote moisture convergence at low levels and are associated with upward vertical movements of air; both factors contribute to the formation and development of clouds,” said Bruno Bainy, meteorologist at the Unicamp Meteorological Research Center. G1.

Tropical

Tropical cyclones include hurricanes and typhoons, depending on the region in which they occur. They are thought to be more intense and destructive than non-tropical cyclones and It occurs in the center of low pressure and warm air extending to the uppermost layers of the atmosphere — are never associated with cold fronts. They generally develop between Earth’s latitudes 20° south and 20° north.

Tropical cyclones are also characterized by high-speed winds that can exceed 300 km per hour and severe storms with torrential rain. Depending on their intensity and geographical location, they are called hurricanes or typhoons: Typhoon occurs in the Western Pacific, while hurricane occurs in the Atlantic Ocean or Eastern Pacific.

It is important to emphasize that tropical events occur due to atmospheric disturbances over warm water bodies, so coastal areas are most affected. In addition to the damage caused by high winds, Tropical cyclones can cause floods, floods and other devastating events for humans.

subtropics

Subtropical cyclones can be defined as a mixture of tropical and extratropical events.The closer to the surface, the higher the temperature, as they have a low pressure system and a core composed of hot and cold mass.

They typically occur in cooler waters at mid-to-high latitudes. Although it causes significant impacts with heavy rain and sea waves, it is not characterized by winds as strong as hurricanes and typhoons.

There are also anticyclones, which have a higher atmospheric pressure with warming and drying air, but unlike cyclones, they are more associated with calmer weather, lighter winds and more stable atmospheric conditions. But both are responsible for important roles in Earth’s atmosphere and climate.

Hurricane, tornado and typhoon?

For many meteorologists and scientists in this field, The term hurricane is considered generic as it includes typhoons and tornadoes. — it’s not for nothing that they are called hurricanes or tropical storms.

The classification of each will depend on its place of origin and density; For example, Tropical cyclones with speeds above 119 km/h can be considered hurricanes. By the way, tropical events occurring in the Western Pacific region are also called typhoons.

Tornadoes are short-lived events, lasting an average of 10 to 15 minutes, but in more intense cases they can last up to 3 hours. This phenomenon is characterized by a rotating column of air with winds that can reach speeds in excess of 400 km per hour. They occur when a cloud-formed tornado touches Earth, usually in certain regions, such as the United States.

Stay up to date with the latest climate news at TecMundo. If you wish, take the opportunity to explore the role of technology in weather forecasting.