What causes typhoons?

Answer 1

Typhoon are a type of cyclone. For the purposes of this answer, the word "cyclone" will be used, as it is the generic term for hurricanes and typhoons as well.

Cyclones are caused by warm tropical moisture bearing clouds developing in open oceans or seas. Cyclones can only form over warm waters in the tropical regions of the oceans where the sea temperatures are 26.5 degrees Celsius or higher. They occur in areas of very low pressure when air that is heated by the sun rises rapidly, and becomes saturated with moisture which then condenses into high thunderclouds. As the atmosphere becomes favorable for development (no wind shearing in the higher parts of the atmosphere), normal thunder storms clump together.

When the hot air rises, cooler air rushes in to fill the area left vacant by the hot air. The Coriolis effect of the Earth spinning on its axis causes the air to spiral upwards with considerable force. This in turn causes the winds to rotate faster, causing the tropical low to deepen in intensity into a tropical depression, and eventually a cyclone which is anywhere between hundreds of kilometres to thousands of kilometres wide.

Cyclones are also characterised by strong winds, yet in their centre is a clear, calm region called the 'eye'. When the cyclone continues its course, and the winds return from the other direction, they may seem to be more violent. The winds are not just rotating; there is also the effect of the warmer air continually rising and cold air rushing in. That is why the winds are so strong, and seem to move in all directions.

Winds gusts in a category 5 cyclone can exceed 280 kph, and a fully developed cyclone pumps out about two million tonnes of air per second.

Answer 2

For a typhoon to begin a there is a convergence of air pressure which produces moisture during water vaporization. Westerly winds then take this low pressure around the equatorial region of the ocean and the heat from the sun produces more moisture. When excessive amounts of moisture and a large scale of air pressure collide with strong spinning winds it starts to spin clockwise and becomes a cyclone. This cyclone will then travel westward toward the Northwest Pacific Ocean region and pushes it past the International Dateline. When the winds in the cyclone reach 64 knots (74 MPH) or more it is then called a typhoon.

Answer 3

Typhoons begin when a wave starts to develop. It goes along with the rotation of the Earth and becomes a typhoon when the system begins to rotate.

Answer 4

The two causes for a typhoon are monsoon trough and tropical upper tropospheric trough. Another cause for a typhoon is when a storm front stalls over warm tropical waters.

Answer 5

Typhoons form in the Pacific Ocean in warm waters near the equator. The storms normally move west. The Philippine Islands are in the 'sweet spot' of the normal track for these wicked storms.

Answer 6

Warm water and inward spiraling winds.