BREEDING GROUNDS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE Flashcards
What are the main breeding grounds for tropical cyclones?
Tropical regions with warm ocean currents, primarily in the Western Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.
Why do tropical cyclones form mostly in the western Pacific Ocean?
The western Pacific has the highest sea surface temperatures, making it the most active cyclone basin.
What is the most active tropical cyclone basin in the world?
The Western Pacific Ocean, where cyclones are called typhoons.
Where do hurricanes form in the Atlantic Ocean?
In the southeastern Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, fueled by warm waters.
Why is the Bay of Bengal a major breeding ground for tropical cyclones?
It has high sea surface temperatures, abundant moisture, and frequent low-pressure systems.
How does the Arabian Sea compare to the Bay of Bengal for cyclone formation?
The Bay of Bengal sees more cyclones due to warmer waters and more low-pressure systems.
Which oceanic region experiences tropical cyclones known as willy-willies?
Northwest Australia and the South Indian Ocean.
Where do tropical cyclones form near Africa?
Around the southeast African coast and the Madagascar-Mauritius region.
What conditions make the Indian Ocean a major breeding ground for tropical cyclones?
Warm waters, high humidity, and the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
What is the primary breeding ground for hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean?
The region off the coast of Mexico and Central America, where sea temperatures exceed 27°C.
Why do tropical cyclones rarely form in the South Atlantic Ocean?
Cool ocean waters and weak Coriolis force prevent cyclone formation.
Why are there very few cyclones in the southeastern Pacific Ocean?
The presence of cold ocean currents like the Humboldt Current inhibits cyclone formation.
How does the Coriolis force impact cyclone breeding grounds?
Cyclones only form between 5° and 30° latitude where the Coriolis force is strong enough to induce rotation.
Why do cyclones rarely form right at the equator?
The Coriolis force is too weak to generate the necessary spin for cyclones.
What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and how does it affect cyclone formation?
A low-pressure belt near the equator where trade winds converge, providing ideal conditions for cyclone development.
How do ocean currents affect tropical cyclone breeding grounds?
Warm ocean currents support cyclone formation, while cold currents inhibit it.
What is the role of El Niño in tropical cyclone activity?
El Niño warms the central/eastern Pacific, leading to more cyclones in the Pacific but fewer in the Atlantic.
How does La Niña impact tropical cyclone formation?
La Niña cools the eastern Pacific but warms the Atlantic, leading to fewer Pacific cyclones but more Atlantic hurricanes.
Why do cyclones in the northern hemisphere outnumber those in the southern hemisphere?
The northern hemisphere has more land-sea interaction, leading to more frequent disturbances.
What makes the Gulf of Mexico a major breeding ground for hurricanes?
It has shallow, warm waters that intensify hurricanes.
Why is the western North Pacific more cyclone-prone than the eastern Pacific?
Warm Kuroshio Current in the west vs. cold California Current in the east.
How do African easterly waves contribute to Atlantic hurricane formation?
These disturbances move westward from Africa, triggering hurricane development over the Atlantic.
What months have the highest cyclone activity in the Northern Hemisphere?
August to November, when sea surface temperatures are warmest.
What months have the highest cyclone activity in the Southern Hemisphere?
January to March, during the region’s late summer.
