Cyclone and anticyclone



Cyclone And Anticyclone 3006
Photo by: victor zastol'skiy

A cyclone is a storm or system of winds that rotates around a center of low atmospheric pressure. An anticyclone is a system of winds that rotates around a center of high atmospheric pressure. Distinctive weather patterns tend to be associated with both cyclones and anticyclones. Cyclones (commonly known as lows) generally are indicators of rain, clouds, and other forms of bad weather. Anticyclones (commonly known as highs) are predictors of fair weather.

Winds in a cyclone blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Winds in an anticyclone blow just the opposite. Vertical air movements are associated with both cyclones and anticyclones. In cyclones, air close to the ground is forced inward toward the center of the cyclone, where pressure is lowest. It then begins to rise upward, expanding and cooling in the process. This cooling increases the humidity of the rising air, which results in cloudiness and high humidity in the cyclone.

In anticyclones, the situation is reversed. Air at the center of an anticyclone is forced away from the high pressure that occurs there. That air is replaced in the center by a downward draft of air from higher altitudes. As this air moves downward, it is compressed and warmed. This

A computer-enhanced image of Hurricane Diana at its strongest on September 11,1984. The hurricane was just off the coast of South and North Carolina at the time, and winds within it were 130 miles per hour (210 kilometers per hour). (Reproduced by permission of National Aeronautics and Space Administration.)
A computer-enhanced image of Hurricane Diana at its strongest on September 11,1984. The hurricane was just off the coast of South and North Carolina at the time, and winds within it were 130 miles per hour (210 kilometers per hour). (Reproduced by permission of
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
.)

warming reduces the humidity of the descending air, which results in few clouds and low humidity in the anticyclone.

Hurricanes and typhoons

Cyclones that form over warm tropical oceans are called tropical cyclones (they are also known as tropical storms or tropical depressions). Tropical cyclones usually move toward the west with the flow of trade winds. A tropical cyclone that drastically increases in intensity is known as a hurricane when it occurs in the Atlantic Ocean or adjacent seas. To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must produce winds over 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour. Hurricanes usually generate off the coast of West Africa and move westward toward Central America and the eastern United States. They increase in size and strength until they reach land or more northern latitudes. In addition to high, sustained winds, hurricanes deliver heavy rain and devastating ocean waves.

In the western Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas, a hurricane is known as a typhoon. This word comes from the Cantonese tai-fung , meaning "great wind."

[ See also Atmospheric pressure ; Storm surge ; Tornado ; Weather ; Wind ]



User Contributions:

1
N.sindila
A well elucidated article.I'm now well placed to explain the whole concept to my students.
are there any anticyclones and cyclones in other bodies of space?
3
Amam Achpong
But how are they formed that is what I am looking for
Is there some another reason that the cyclones attract the surrounding air??
5
connor
which one is worse? anticyclone or a regular tornado?
6
Samuel chiwaulah
Is it posible for the cyclones and anticyclones to occure at same time,and same place?.
7
alex
i never new that it was good to find out it was great
8
A_Smart_Person
Anticyclones only occur in the southern hemisphere, and cyclones in the northern. In that case, no, it is not possible for them to both occur at once @Samuel chiwaulah. Also, tornadoes are much more devastating than anitcyclones, in fact, anticyclones often bring good weather @Connor.
9
angelica
i love this site its thebest site i have use this year
10
kabir labaran
I love this site its very intersting and I really enjoying it pls I need more explanation about an eastely wave, airmasses & fronts. and how they occur in that weather tropical producing? system?
11
kierstin pratt
Its an amazing article and every thing but not what I'm looking for. I need to know this question, What causes a cyclonic air system to form (Use a tornado or hurricane) Please help I need the answer. ^_^
12
Ahmad
Best Description of Cyclone and Anti-Cyclone i have seen so far! Thank you.
13
saanvi
IT IS VERY good to see that i can read all information from here
14
AJ Stanners
That's not the case. Anticyclones and cyclones occur in both Northern and Southern hemispheres.
15
Laura Mitchell
I feel that this should have more information. I need 45 facts for a project, and so far this isn't going well. But I'm glad to see that the information given to me is very helpful!
16
hello
For all the people talking about how cyclones form, tropical cyclones develop from the large-scale clusters of thunderstorm cells that are often witnessed over tropical oceans. They get their energy from the evaporation of surface water with a temperature of more than 27°C. I basically copied this sentence word for word from another website, pardon my copyright.
17
Stephanie Behren Hirsch
Can you please tell if during a cyclone air moves from high pressure to low pressure or from low pressure to high pressure.
18
Claire Widowly
Are Anticyclones and normal Cyclones opposites? They spin in different directions but is that the only thing they are opposites for?

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