Cyclone and Hurricane

Both cyclones and hurricanes are natural disasters caused by water. Nonetheless, both of these calamities are distinct. This is the primary reason why they are frequently confused. Hurricanes and cyclones are generated when the atmospheric conditions in the surrounding area become unstable. These atmospheric circumstances usually result in a stormy climate with the potential for widespread devastation due to torrential rain, flooding, and high-velocity winds. In addition, both Hurricanes and Cyclones are water storms that are characterised by high-speed winds.

The variation in their geographical location is what distinguishes hurricanes from cyclones. A hurricane is a water storm that occurs in the Atlantic or Northeast Pacific Oceans, whereas a cyclone occurs in the North Indian Ocean. Cyclones are water storms that originate and rotate around a low-pressure centre known as the storm’s eye. Hurricanes are massive water storms with a powerful wind whirling at around 74 miles per hour in the storm’s arms.

Cyclone

Cyclones are water storms that originate and rotate around a low-pressure centre known as the storm’s eye. When opposed to the high-pressure winds sweeping around it in the cyclone’s spinning arms, this eye of the storm is eerily calm. These cyclones are also known as typhoons or hurricanes, depending on their severity and location.

Hurricane

Hurricanes are massive water storms with a powerful wind whirling at around 74 miles per hour in the storm’s arms. This rotating wind swirls in the tropics’ oceans, creating a fearsome force that may lash ashore, causing mass havoc and death. Because of the tremendous rains, strong gusts, and devastating waves that occur within and around them, they are the most feared water storms. They usually leave behind damaged land, flooded places, and ruined plants, homes, and human life. Hurricanes, on average, last for many days, covering at least 5,00,000 square kilometres of land.

Some Important Terminologies with respect to Cyclone and Hurricane

1. Eye of the Storm: Cyclones and hurricanes both have an eye in the centre that is unusually quiet relative to the rest of the storm. The eye remains calm and peaceful throughout the storm, as though watching the storm’s passage. It usually takes the shape of a roughly circular area with light winds and clear skies. When a storm’s greatest sustained wind speed reaches 78 miles per hour, it forms an eye. Furthermore, the size of an eye can vary from 5 to 60 miles, with the average being 20 miles. Furthermore, the size of the eye continues to diminish as the storm increases.

2. Beaufort Wind Scale: The Beaufort wind scale is an estimation and reporting system for wind speeds. The Beaufort Force or Beaufort Number is used to calculate this scale. Wind speeds, descriptive phrases, and visible impacts of the wind’s influence on land objects and/or water surfaces make up this factor.

3. Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: On a scale of 1 to 5, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is used to determine the strength of a hurricane based on the highest sustained wind speed and estimated damage. Furthermore, other potentially damaging threats such as storm surges, rainfall flooding, or even tornadoes are not taken into account on this scale.

Cyclone vs Hurricane