Tropical Cyclone Structure

And Size

How Landforms And Bodies

Of Water Affect Typhoons?
Fill in the missing information in the table
below:

Typhoon Hurricane Cyclone

 Tropical Cyclone Structure

Cross section of a typical hurricane.

 Tropical Cyclone Structure
The main parts of a tropical cyclone are :
RAIN BANDS
EYE
EYEWALL
Air spirals in toward the center in a counter-clockwise pattern in
the northern hemisphere (clockwise in the southern hemisphere),
and out the top in the opposite direction.
In the very center of the storm, air sinks, forming an "eye" that
is mostly cloud-free.
 The Eye
The hurricane's center is a relatively calm,
generally clear area of sinking air and light winds
that usually do not exceed 15 mph (24 km/h) and
is typically 20-40 miles (32-64 km) across.
Usually develop when the maximum sustained
wind speeds go above 74 mph (119 km/h) and is
the calmest part of the storm.
 The Eye
Why does an EYE formed?
The cause of eye formation is still not fully
understood.
It probably has to do with the combination of "the
conservation of angular momentum" and centrifugal
force.
The conservation of angular momentum means is
objects will spin faster as they move toward the
center of circulation.
So, air increases it speed as it heads toward the
center of the tropical cyclone.
Radar image of hurricane Ike, September 13, 2008
 The Eyewall
Around 74 mph (119 km/h) the strong rotation of air
around the cyclone balances inflow to the center,
causing air to ascend about 10-20 miles (16-32 km)
from the center forming the EYEWALL.

This strong rotation also creates a vacuum of air at the

center, causing some of the air flowing out the top of
the eyewall to turn inward and sink to replace the loss
of air mass near the center.
 The Eyewall
Where the strong wind gets as close as it can
is the eyewall.
The eyewall consists of a ring of tall
thunderstorms that produce heavy rains and
usually the strongest winds.
Changes in the structure of the eye and
eyewall can cause changes in the wind
speed, which is an indicator of the storm's
intensity.
 The Eyewall
The eye can grow or shrink in size, and double
(concentric) eyewalls can form. In intense tropical
cyclones, some of the outer rain bands may
organize into an outer ring of thunderstorms that
slowly moves inward and robs the inner eyewall of
its needed moisture and momentum.

During this phase, the tropical cyclone is

weakening.
 The Eyewall

Eventually the outer eyewall replaces the

inner one completely and the storm can be
the same intensity as it was previously or, in
some cases, even stronger.
 Rainbands

 Curved bands of clouds and thunderstorms

that trail away from the eye wall in a spiral
fashion.
 These bands are capable of producing heavy
bursts of rain and winds.
 There are sometimes gaps in between spiral
rain bands where no rain or wind is found.
 Rainbands

 In fact, if one were to travel between the outer

edge of a hurricane to its center, one would
normally progress from light rain and wind, to dry
and weak breeze, then back to increasingly heavier
rainfall and stronger wind, over and over again with
each period of rainfall and wind being more intense
and lasting longer.
 How landforms and bodies of water affect
typhoons?

 They affect typhoon based on what or how

strong the energy is released by the
landforms and bodies of water.
 Typhoons gain energy from warm ocean
water and lose energy over cold water.
 Interaction with land will weaken a
typhoon.
How landforms and bodies of water affect
typhoons?
Philippine Area of Responsibilities (PAR)
Why PAG-ASA regularly monitors
when a tropical cyclone is

!
within the PAR?
PAG-ASA regularly monitors
tropical cyclone within the
Philippine Area of Responsibility so
that people will be ready for the
tropical cyclone when it enters the
PAR and so that, the cyclone will
take less damage and less deaths
Public Storm Warning Signal
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #1
× WINDS: 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hr
SEA CONDITIONS (Open Sea)
Wave Height: 1.25-4.0 meters

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:
× Very light or no damage to high risk structures,
× Light to medium and low risk structures
× Slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in
exposed communities.

DAMAGE TO VEGETATION:
× Some banana plants are tilted, a few downed and leaves are generally damaged
× Twigs of small trees may be broken.
× Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #1
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #2

× WINDS: 61-120 kph may be expected in at least 24 hr

× SEA CONDITIONS (Open Sea)
× Wave Height:4.1-14.0 m
× Storm surge possible at coastal areas.

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:

× Light to Moderate damage to high risk structures;

× Very light to light damage to medium-risk structures;
× No damage to very light damage to low risk structures
× Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures
of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed.
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #2

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:

× Some old galvanized iron (G.I.) roofs may be peeled or blown off.
× Some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed.
× Some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards.

DAMAGE TO VEGETATION:

× Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipiland similar trees are downed or
broken.
× Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken.
× Rice and corn may be adversely affected.
× Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown
down.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #2
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #3

× WINDS: 121-170 kph may be expected in at least 18 hr

SEA CONDITIONS (Open Sea)
Wave Height: > 14.0 meters
Storm surge possible at coastal.

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:

× Heavy damage to high–risk structures;

× Moderate damage to medium-risk structures;
× Light damage to low-risk structures
× Increasing damage to old, dilapidated residential structures and houses of light
materials (up to 50% in a community)
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #3

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:
× Houses of medium strength materials (old, timber or mixed timber-CHB structures,
usually with G.I. roofings), some warehouses or bodega-type structures are unroofed

DAMAGE TO VEGETATION:
× Almost all banana plants are downed, some big trees (acacia, mango, etc.) are
broken or uprooted,
× Dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are tilted or downed
× Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with heavy foliage blown off; some large
trees blown down.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #3
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #4

× WINDS: 171-220 kph may be expected in at least 12 hr

SEA CONDITIONS (Open Sea)
Wave Height: more than 14.0 meters
Storm surge 2-3m possible at coastal areas.

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:

× Very heavy damage to high –risk structures.

× Heavy damage to medium risk structures;
× Moderate damage to low-risk structures
× Considerable damage to structures of light materials (up to 75% are totally and
partially destroyed); complete roof structure failures.
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #4

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:

× Many houses of medium-built materials are unroofed, some with collapsed walls;
extensive damage to doors and windows
× A few houses of first-class materials are partially damaged
× All signs/billboards are blown down.

DAMAGE TO VEGETATION:

× There is almost total damage to banana plantation,

× Most mango trees, ipil-ipiland similar types of large trees are downed or broken.
× Coconut plantation may suffer extensive damage.
× Rice and corn plantation may suffer severe losses.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #4
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #5

× WINDS: > 220 kph may be expected in at least 12 hr

A Super Typhoon will affect the locality.

SEA CONDITIONS (Open Sea)

Wave Height: more than 14.0 m
Storm surge more than 3 meters possible at coastal areas

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:
× Widespread damage to high-risk structures
× Very heavy damage to medium-risk structures
× Heavy damage to low-risk structures;
× Almost total damage to structures of light in highly exposed coastal areas.
 Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #5

DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE:

× Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Severe and
extensive window and door damage
× Most residential and institutional buildings of mixed construction may be severely
damaged.
× Electrical power distribution and communication services severely disrupted.
× All signs/billboards blown
×
DAMAGE TO VEGETATION:Total damage to banana plantation
× Most tall trees are broken, uprooted or defoliated;
× Coconut trees are stooped, broken or uprooted.
× Few plants and trees survived
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal #5