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Cyclones and Hurricanes are both natural disasters and both are water-based. Still, these two are distinct disasters. This is the main reason why people often confuse them with each other. Cyclones, as well as Hurricanes, are formed due to instability in the atmospheric conditions of the surrounding area. These atmospheric conditions usually create a stormy climate that possesses the power for mass destruction through heavy rain, floods and high-velocity winds. Also, both Hurricanes and Cyclones can be referred to as water storms that are basically spinning high-speed winds. The differentiating factor between hurricanes and cyclones is the difference in their geographical location. Basically, a water storm that transpires in the Atlantic or the Northeast Pacific Ocean is referred to as a hurricane while one that occurs in the North Indian Ocean is referred to as a Cyclone. Cyclones are spinning water storms that form and rotate around a low-pressure centre called the eye of the storm. Hurricanes are huge water storms that usually have a strong wind rotating at the approximate speed of 74 miles per hour in the arms of the storm.
| Table of Contents |
Key Terms: Cyclone, Hurricane, Difference Between Cyclone and Hurricane, Water Storms, Eyes of Storm, Beaufort Scale, Frequency, Beaufort Wind Scale, Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
What is a Cyclone?
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Cyclones are spinning water storms that form and rotate around a low-pressure centre called the eye of the storm. Interestingly, this eye of the storm is eerily calm when compared to the high-pressure winds blowing around it in the spinning arms of the cyclone. Depending on the severity and location of these cyclones, they are also often called typhoons or hurricanes.
Cyclone
What is a Hurricane?
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Hurricanes are huge water storms that usually have a strong wind rotating at the approximate speed of 74 miles per hour in the arms of the storm. This rotating wind swirls around in the oceans in the tropics to create a terrifying force that can blast ashore to cause mass destruction and death. These are the most feared water storms because of the heavy rains, wild winds and deadly waves that occur within and around them. They tend to leave their mark in the form of damaged land, flooded areas and destroyed vegetation, homes and human life. On average, hurricanes tend to last for a while that is enough to cover at least 5,00,000 square miles of land.
Hurricane
Important Terminologies Related to Cyclone and Hurricane
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Some of the important terms related to Cyclones and Hurricanes are as follows:
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Eye of the Storm
Both Cyclones and hurricanes have an eye present at the centre that is un-naturally calm when compared to the entire storm. During the whole storm, the eye remains calm and peaceful as if watching the path of the storm. It is usually a roughly circular area in its shape that experiences light winds and rain-free skies. Any storm develops an eye when its maximum sustained wind speed reaches at least 78 miles per hour. Also, the size of the eye can range from 5 to about 60 miles still, the average size of an eye is 20 miles. Further, as the storm intensifies, the size of the eye continues to shrink.
Eye of A Storm
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Beaufort Wind Scale
The Beaufort wind scale is a system that estimates and reports wind speeds. This scale works on the basis of the Beaufort Force or Beaufort Number. This factor is composed of wind speeds, descriptive terms, and visible effects of the force of the wind on the land objects and/or sea surfaces.
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Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is rating based scale that is used to identify the intensity of a hurricane on a scale of 1 to 5, depending on the maximum sustained wind speed and expected damage. Also, this scale does not consider any other potentially destructive hazards like storm surges, rainfall flooding or even tornadoes.
Difference Between Cyclone and Hurricane
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Even though Hurricanes and Cyclones are mainly water storms, they are different in their features, damage, location, lifespan, speed etc. Still, considering that other factors can face exceptions, the main difference between both these types of water storms exists in their locations.
The table below illustrates these differences in detail and in a simple format.
| Parameter | Cyclones | Hurricanes |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Cyclones are water storms with rapidly and wildly circulating wind that forms a low-pressure centre that is called the eye of the storm. These water storms are also always accompanied by destructive weather in and around them. | Hurricanes are water storms with wildly circulating wind around them that continues to spin at varying high speeds. These winds also form a low-pressure zone at the centre of the hurricane that is referred to as the eye of the storm. These water storms are also always accompanied by destructive weather in and around them. |
| Direction of the rotation of the wind | The direction of rotation of a cyclone varies according to the region. In the cyclones in the northern hemisphere, the rotation is counterclockwise. On the other hand, in the southern hemisphere, the rotation of the cyclone occurs in a clockwise direction. | In the case of a hurricane, the rotation occurs in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere. On the other hand, the rotation in the northern hemisphere occurs in a counterclockwise direction. |
| The measure of the intensity of the storms | The intensity of the cyclones is measured using the Beaufort Scale. These scales can usually measure high-speed winds of a speed of up to 30 kph. | The intensity of a hurricane is measured using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This scale is used to rate hurricanes from one to five. This rating depends on the sustained speed of the wind and the potential for property damage of the winds surrounding it. A CAT is the lowest category storm that sustains winds with a speed of 74 to 95 miles per hour and is hence considered a minor hurricane. |
| Most Affected Region | The Pacific oceans are the region that is the most affected by cyclones. | The Caribbean Sea region is the region that is the most affected by Hurricanes. |
| Frequency of Occurring | On average, around 10-14 cyclones occur around the Earth in a year. | On average, around 10-15 hurricanes occur around the Earth in a year. |
Effects of Cyclones and Hurricanes
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Things to Remember
- The eye of a storm is the most peaceful part of a storm that experiences only light winds and a rain-free sky. This roughly circular legion covers an average area of about 20 miles. Further, the size of the eye is inversely related to the intensity of the storm.
- The Beaufort Wind Scale is used to estimate the wind speeds during a cyclone. It is based on wind speeds, descriptive terms, and visible effects of the force of the wind on land objects and/or sea surfaces while the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a rating based scale, used to identify the intensity of a hurricane on a scale of 1 to 5, depending on the maximum sustained wind speed and expected damage.
- Cyclones are spinning water storms that form and rotate around a low-pressure centre called the eye of the storm.
- Hurricanes are huge water storms that usually have a strong wind rotating at the approximate speed of 74 miles per hour in the arms of the storm.
- Even though Hurricanes and Cyclones are mainly water storms, they are different in their features, damage, location, lifespan, speed etc.
Sample Questions
Ques. Are Cyclones and Hurricanes different? How? (3 Marks)
Ans. Yes, even though Hurricanes and Cyclones are mainly water storms, they are different in their features, damage, location, lifespan, speed etc. Also, the scales used for measuring both differ as the intensity of cyclones is measured using the Beaufort wind scale while the intensity of hurricanes is measured using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Ques. Why is the eye of a storm called so? (3 Marks)
Ans. The eye of the storm remains unnaturally calm as compared to the arms of the storm that experience high-speed winds, heavy rainfall etc. Consequently, it seems as if the eye is watching the path of the storm and guiding it. Hence, it is named so, as it performs the function of a human eye for the storm.
Ques. In which direction do cyclones and hurricanes rotate? (3 Marks)
Ans. The direction of rotation of the water storms varies according to the region. In cyclones in the northern hemisphere, the rotation is counterclockwise while it is clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Similarly, in the case of a hurricane, the rotation occurs in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere and in the counterclockwise direction in the northern hemisphere.
Ques. Define Cyclones and Hurricanes? (5 Marks)
Ans. Cyclones are spinning water storms that form and rotate around a low-pressure centre called the eye of the storm. Depending on the severity and location of these cyclones, they are also often called typhoons or hurricanes.
Hurricanes are huge water storms that usually have strong winds that swirl around in the oceans in the tropics creating a terrifying force that can cause mass destruction and death because of the heavy rains, wild winds and deadly waves that occur within and around them.
Ques. How is the intensity of a Cyclone measured? (3 Marks)
Ans. The Beaufort wind scale is used to measure the intensity of a cyclone. It is a system that estimates and reports wind speeds. This scale works on the basis of wind speeds, descriptive terms, and visible effects of the force of the wind on land objects and/or sea surfaces.
Ques. What is the eye of the storm? (5 Marks)
Ans. Eye of the storm refers to the eerily calm area present at the centre of both cyclones and hurricanes.
- It is usually roughly circular in shape and experiences light winds and a rain-free sky.
- Any storm develops an eye when its maximum sustained wind speed reaches at least 78 miles per hour.
- The average size of an eye is 20 miles and as the storm intensifies, the size of the eye continues to shrink.
Ques. How is the intensity of a Hurricane measured? (3 Marks)
Ans. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is rating based scale that is used to identify the intensity of a hurricane on a scale of 1 to 5, depending on the maximum sustained wind speed and expected damage. The scale does not consider any other potentially destructive hazards like storm surges, rainfall flooding or even tornadoes.
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