Concept in Definition ABC

Typhoon is a extremely strong wind as a result of air turning around a low pressure region. We could say that typhoons are to the Pacific Ocean what hurricanes are to the Atlantic Ocean. Because precisely the typhoon is a characteristic cyclone suffered by the eastern coasts of Asia and is characterized by the virulence of the winds and storms that accompany the wind.

So the low atmospheric pressure and the condensation of the humid air of the environment that is transformed into rains of great importance and power are the triggers of this particular climatic phenomenon. Typhoons usually form in open aquatic environments such as the sea or ocean, and can reach terrestrial or continental areas depending on the force that they develop as they go. Some of them lose velocity and power before reaching the ground and therefore are harmless, while others add more and more force making when reaching ground they are extremely dangerous and harmful.

Characteristics and impact of Typhoons on land

Typhoons are characteristic of tropical areas since the climatic conditions occur in them and atmospheric ideal for the formation of storms and for the condensation of the permanent air damp. One of the most distinctive characteristics of typhoons, an element that serves to differentiate it from other phenomena such as tsunamis or tidal waves, is that Typhoons are often formed from winds and storms combined together that are concentrically structured and always maintain an empty center. As they gain space and strength, these typhoons become more visible on radars and specialized equipment thanks to the amount of clouds they collect.

The typhoon is capable of producing very fast winds, very high waves, tornadoes and torrential rains that when hitting populations are capable of producing the most impressive consequences imaginable, including: burying under the water one population, uproot houses and any other type of solid structure.

It should be noted that when they penetrate the ground their strength begins to decline and that is the explanation that the areas Coastal areas are always the most affected by them, while inland areas can be, but to a lesser extent. measure.

Classification

The hurricane scale of Saffir-Simpson It is the scale that is used internationally to measure the strength of the typhoon. It was developed by the American engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson in 1969. It contemplates levels ranging from 1 to 5With number 1 being the weakest category and number 5 being the most important level of impact and damage.

Hurricane Andrew that hit the United States in August 1992, Hurricane Mitch that hit Central America in 1998, Hurricane Katrina that also struck the United States hard in 2005 and the recent Typhoon Haiyan, which in November 2013 devastated several coastal towns in Philippines fall within the highest category on this scale, number 5.

Although cyclones enrolled in category 5 and causing enormous damage in their path are rather rare and they do not happen constantly, it is worth noting that when they do occur they are capable of causing shocking damage to infrastructure and the loss of thousands of human lives, without going any further the best example is Haiyan these days in Philippines that already had left ten thousand dead and has completely destroyed cities.

Study and prediction

Typhoons are undoubtedly one of the most analyzed and researched climatic phenomena by scientists. Thanks to the technological advances that have occurred in this regard, satellites, sensors, sophisticated computers, simulation programs, Among other instruments and devices is that these phenomena can be predicted in advance, although of course, beyond that sometimes the violence with which they act is what is quite difficult to predict and generally it is such that nothing can be done to avoid its tremendous collateral damage.

Denomination
It has been a common practice for a long time to name with own names to tropical cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons with the mission of making easier the task of disseminating their arrival by the media of communication, to give them an important entity and that they do not go unnoticed by the population, to initiate claims for damage to insurance, among other issues. Meanwhile, it is the World Meteorological Organization who is in charge of deciding those names.

On Typhoon Haiyan that struck and devastated the Philippines, we have a special item.