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Tropical cyclones (also known as hurricanes and typhoons) gain their energy from evaporation of warm ocean water. When this moisture rises and condenses, it release latent heat, which fuels the storm. As the cyclone moves over the land it no longer has this latent heat source, since there is very little water available for evaporation on land. Therefore, its energy source is effectively removed.
Additionally, the friction over land increases considerably from that over water, and this acts to weaken the storm's structure. This is especially true over rugged terrains, and mountains in particular. This is why a hurricane may hold together better over flat land, such as when it comes onshore around the Gulf of Mexico. But the same hurricane may be severely weakened just passing over a mountainous island such as Hispaniola or even Jamaica.
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∙ 13y ago
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∙ 14y agoThe fuel source that tropical cyclones rely on is the heat that they absorb from the warm surface temperatures of the bodies of waters they travel over. It is necessary for the eye of the storm to remain over these kinds of waters for them to maintain strength or strengthen further. If the outer edges of the hurricane interact with land it can cause some weakening in the system, but if the eye remains off land, the storm will not be too greatly impacted (as a general rule that is). Once the eye of the storm makes landfall and moves off of the water surface, it loses the hot water that acts as its battery. Not able to draw the energy from the waters, it begins to lose strength and weakens steadily as it moves inland - this weakening can occur quite rapidly, or may be a somewhat more gradual degradation of the storm; either way, once on land, the storm is destined for downgrading from hurricane, to tropical storm, to tropical depression, eventually becoming only remnants of its previous self.
There are times when the storm will weaken into a mere area of disturbed weather over land, then re-enter the water later and regain tropical characteristics, thus gaining a storm status again (it will receive the name it originally had). A notable example of this is Hurricane Ivan - Ivan made landfall near Gulf Shores, AL; then moved northeast across the U.S. to re-emerge in the Atlantic, and perform a loop back down the coast, regaining tropical status, entering the Gulf of Mexico once more, and making landfall somewhere near Texas/LA as a weak tropical storm.
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∙ 12y agoTropical cyclones (also known as hurricanes and typhoons) gain their energy from evaporation of warm ocean water. When this moisture rises and condenses, it release latent heat, which fuels the storm. As the cyclone moves over the land it no longer has this latent heat source, since there is very little water available for evaporation on land. Therefore, its energy source is effectively removed.
Hope that helps :) i am only in year 7
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∙ 11y agoHurricanes (cyclones) depend on warm water to be born and survive. With out the "fuel" needed to survive, they die. That is why the storms or cyclones dissipate so quickly once over land. The only downfall to this, is that yes, the winds diminish quite significantly the further inland the storm travels...but then it dumps all the water or rain in the system causing severe flooding without the storm surge. Not to mention they need at least 150' of warm water at or above 80deg F to "stay healthy".
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoTropical cyclones are powered by the moisture that evaporates from warm ocean water. When they move over land they are cut of from that fuel source. There is moisture in the air, but not enough to maintain their strength.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoTropical storms draw their energy from moisture that evaporates off warm ocean water. There is not enough moisture over land, so tropical storms that make landfall are cut off frmt hat power source.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoHurricanes depend on plentiful moisture from warm ocean water to maintain their strength. As a hurricane travels north it encounters cooler water, which provides less moisture to fuel the storm.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThe wind slows down due to friction with the land. It also loses the warmth and moisture that originally created the cyclone over the oceans.
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How land forms and bodies of water affects typhoon?
Typhoons gain strength when over warm waters, but cool waters and land causes them to lose strength.
Why do cyclones occur in the coastal areas?
The most dangerous type of cyclone is a tropical cyclone such as a typhoon or hurricane. Tropical cyclones develop by feeding on the moisture that evaporates from warm ocean water. Moisture they cannot get over land. Upon hitting land these storm systems rapidly lose strength, so their worst impacts are usually confined to coastal areas.
Do thunderstorms lose their strength when passing over land?
Yes, because they loose the source they draw from, the oceans.
How do hurricanes lose energy?
They lose there energy when the Hurricanes reach land because the sea is there food and energy. when the hurricanes reach land it destroys thinks in its path and dies.
Why does a hurricane lose strength when it passes over land?
Hurricanes gain strength from the warmth of the ocean water.
Do thunderstorms lose strength as they pass over land?
No. Hurricanes lose strength when they move over land. Thunderstorms can easily form and become very strong over both land and water.
Does a hurricane lose its strenghth quickly over ocean water or land?
Hurricanes lose their strength quicker on land.
Do hurricanes begin to lose strength when they hit land?
YES
Why does a hurricane decrease its intensity when it reaches land?
Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones, like all tropical storms, get their energy from the warm water over which they travel. Once part of the storm absorbs air from over land surfaces (which are drier, cooler, or both), it begins to lose power.
How land forms and bodies of water affects typhoon?
Typhoons gain strength when over warm waters, but cool waters and land causes them to lose strength.
Why does a tornado lose strength when it passes over land?
They don't. Hurricanes lose strength as they pass over land. This is because their gain their energy from the moisture that evaporates off warm ocean water. When a hurricane strikes land it is cut off from this energy source.
Why do cyclones occur in the coastal areas?
The most dangerous type of cyclone is a tropical cyclone such as a typhoon or hurricane. Tropical cyclones develop by feeding on the moisture that evaporates from warm ocean water. Moisture they cannot get over land. Upon hitting land these storm systems rapidly lose strength, so their worst impacts are usually confined to coastal areas.
Why are hurricanes most likely to affect islands and coastal regions?
Hurricanes are systems the develop over tropical ocean water and quickly lose strength when they hit land. Therefore most of their impacts on humans will be on islands and in coastal areas.
What would be a hurricane's enemy?
I'd say land. As hurricanes go over land, they become weaker and lose strength.
Why does a hurricane lose strength when it passes land?
It no longer has warm, moist air to draw energy from..
Do thunderstorms lose their strength when passing over land?
Yes, because they loose the source they draw from, the oceans.
Can meteorologists predict when hurricanes will occur?
To a limited degree, yes. Meteorologists track tropical weather systems and analyze them to determine how likely they are to develop into tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, tropical storms, or hurricanes). By looking at conditions in and around a tropical cyclone scientists can estimated where a hurricane will probably go and how strong it will likely be. However, predictions more than 5 days into the future lose accuracy rapidly.
