here'S a short video about the science behind typhoons
RECAP
WHAt is a TYPHOON?
A typhoon is an intense area of low atmospheric pressure. It is a low pressure weather system with sustained wind speeds near its center of at least 56 knots. (about 105 kph). Typhoons are made over the ocean, almost always in the tropical region of the northern hemisphere of the planet (5 - 22 degrees latitude) where the sea surface temperature is above 26 degrees Celsius. A Tropical Depression or Tropical Storm passing over land will usually deliver increased levels of precipitation than a fully formed Typhoon.
(Willes, 2017)
HOW DO TYPHOONS OCCUR?
- The first step to becoming a typhoon is starting off as a thunderstorm, the strong winds pulling in moisture from the oceans.
- Having pulled the moisture from the oceans, the moisture is converted into heat, causing a greater amount of air to flow to the center of the storm, bringing about evaporation.
- Finally, all the heat and air flow toward the eye, generating a typhoon.
(Cockburn, 2013)
MORE ON THE SCIENCE OF TYPHOONS
What's the difference?
Typhoon
The term 'typhoon' is used when there is a tropical storm in the Northwest Pacific.
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Hurricane
The term 'hurricane' is used when there is a tropical storm in the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, central and northeast Pacific.
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Cyclone
The term 'cyclone' or 'tropical cyclone' is used when there is a tropical storm in the Bay of Bengal, Arabia Sea, and southwest India Ocean.
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- All three terms refer to the same definition; which is a tropical storm. Each are only unique by their names used in different parts of the world.
- A storm is given a name, and considered a tropical storm when the wind speed reaches 39 mph (63 kph).
- A storm is considered a typhoon/hurricane/cyclone when the wind speed reaches 74 mph (119 kph) and beyond.
TYPHOONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Approximately twenty tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility yearly, of which ten will be typhoons, with five being destructive. In the Philippine language, typhoons are called bagyo.
Typhoons can hit the Philippines any time of year, with the months of June to September being the most active, August being the most active individual month and May the least active. Typhoons move east to west across the country, heading north as they go. Storms in the Philippines most frequently landfall on the islands of Eastern Visayas, the Bicol region, and northern Luzon; whereas the southern island and region of Mindanao are largely free of typhoons.
Tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility are given a local name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which also raises public storm signal warnings as deemed necessary. Preparation and response to typhoons is coordinated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Each Philippine province and local government in the country has a corresponding Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO). Each provincial and local government is required to set aside 5% of its yearly budget for disaster risk reduction, preparations, and response.
Typhoons can hit the Philippines any time of year, with the months of June to September being the most active, August being the most active individual month and May the least active. Typhoons move east to west across the country, heading north as they go. Storms in the Philippines most frequently landfall on the islands of Eastern Visayas, the Bicol region, and northern Luzon; whereas the southern island and region of Mindanao are largely free of typhoons.
Tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility are given a local name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which also raises public storm signal warnings as deemed necessary. Preparation and response to typhoons is coordinated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Each Philippine province and local government in the country has a corresponding Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO). Each provincial and local government is required to set aside 5% of its yearly budget for disaster risk reduction, preparations, and response.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPHOON/cyclone CATEGORIES and
classifications IN THE COUNTRY?
(Kieffer, 2013)
(Larrosa, 2015)
WHAT ARE THE PUBLIC STORM WARNING SIGNALS IN THE COUNTRY?
(Larrosa, 2015)
WHAT ARE THE Instruments used to measure typhoons?
http://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.instruments
Thermometer
A thermometer is an instrument used to measure temperature. A common thermometer is the mercury thermometer used outside residential areas. The volume of the mercury changes as the outside temperature changes. The volume of the liquid expands as it heats up, this means there is an increase in temperature, and the liquid contracts when it cools down, meaning there is a decrease in temperature. At modern weather stations, an electronic temperature sensor is used to measure the outside air temperature. The temperature sensor on this device is contained within a vented unit which allows air to flow freely across the sensor and measure the temperature while keeping the thermometer shaded from the direct heating of the sun.
A thermometer is an instrument used to measure temperature. A common thermometer is the mercury thermometer used outside residential areas. The volume of the mercury changes as the outside temperature changes. The volume of the liquid expands as it heats up, this means there is an increase in temperature, and the liquid contracts when it cools down, meaning there is a decrease in temperature. At modern weather stations, an electronic temperature sensor is used to measure the outside air temperature. The temperature sensor on this device is contained within a vented unit which allows air to flow freely across the sensor and measure the temperature while keeping the thermometer shaded from the direct heating of the sun.
Anemometer
An anemometer is a type of weather instrument that measures wind speed. Some of these instruments measure both wind speed and wind direction. Anemometers are common at weather stations. A windmill anemometer is a common instrument used at weather stations used to obtain the wind speed. A wind vane is used as part of the anemometer to determine the wind's direction. As the wind flows over the windmill, the speed and direction of the wind can be measured with this instrument. Wind direction is always given by where the wind is coming from, so that a west wind is blowing from the west and going towards the east.
An anemometer is a type of weather instrument that measures wind speed. Some of these instruments measure both wind speed and wind direction. Anemometers are common at weather stations. A windmill anemometer is a common instrument used at weather stations used to obtain the wind speed. A wind vane is used as part of the anemometer to determine the wind's direction. As the wind flows over the windmill, the speed and direction of the wind can be measured with this instrument. Wind direction is always given by where the wind is coming from, so that a west wind is blowing from the west and going towards the east.
Hygrometer
A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure relative humidity. Humidity is the measure of the amount of moisture in the air. A psychrometer is an example of a hygrometer. A psychrometer uses two thermometers to measure relative humidity; one measures the dry-bulb temperature and the other measures the wet-bulb temperature. The wet-bulb thermometer contains water in the base that evaporates and absorbs heat which decreases the temperature reading. To determine the relative humidity, the temperatures are taken from the dry-bulb thermometer and the temperature difference between the wet and dry bulb thermometers. From these measurements, a table is used to find the relative humidity at a certain location.
A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure relative humidity. Humidity is the measure of the amount of moisture in the air. A psychrometer is an example of a hygrometer. A psychrometer uses two thermometers to measure relative humidity; one measures the dry-bulb temperature and the other measures the wet-bulb temperature. The wet-bulb thermometer contains water in the base that evaporates and absorbs heat which decreases the temperature reading. To determine the relative humidity, the temperatures are taken from the dry-bulb thermometer and the temperature difference between the wet and dry bulb thermometers. From these measurements, a table is used to find the relative humidity at a certain location.
Rain Gauge
A rain gauge is an instrument used to measure the amount of liquid precipitation over a certain length of time. In its simplest sense, a rain gauge is nothing more than a can which collects water which falls from the sky as rain. Rain gauges are placed in open areas where there are no obstructions. A common type of rain gauge used at weather stations is the heated tipping bucket. This rain gauge melts frozen precipitation around the opening and keeps the precipitation in liquid form when it enters the bucket. As rain enters the funnel of the tipping bucket rain gauge, the rain drips into one of the two buckets that are balanced on a pivot below the funnel. When the bucket tips, it triggers a reed switch which sends data back to the weather station on the amount of precipitation in the bucket. However, the heating element can cause evaporation of small amounts of rain before it gets to the measuring funnel.
A rain gauge is an instrument used to measure the amount of liquid precipitation over a certain length of time. In its simplest sense, a rain gauge is nothing more than a can which collects water which falls from the sky as rain. Rain gauges are placed in open areas where there are no obstructions. A common type of rain gauge used at weather stations is the heated tipping bucket. This rain gauge melts frozen precipitation around the opening and keeps the precipitation in liquid form when it enters the bucket. As rain enters the funnel of the tipping bucket rain gauge, the rain drips into one of the two buckets that are balanced on a pivot below the funnel. When the bucket tips, it triggers a reed switch which sends data back to the weather station on the amount of precipitation in the bucket. However, the heating element can cause evaporation of small amounts of rain before it gets to the measuring funnel.
Barometer
Atmospheric pressure is measured by barometers. An aneroid barometer, one of the most common types, uses a sealed can of air to detect changes in atmospheric pressure. As the atmospheric pressure goes up, it pushes in on the can, and the can is slightly reduced in volume, moving an indicator needle towards higher pressure. If the atmospheric pressure goes down, the can expands slightly and the needle indicates lower pressure. Some barometers in the past used special graph paper to track changing pressure over time; now, they report electronic signals to a computer, which plots the trends of pressure on computer monitors.
Atmospheric pressure is measured by barometers. An aneroid barometer, one of the most common types, uses a sealed can of air to detect changes in atmospheric pressure. As the atmospheric pressure goes up, it pushes in on the can, and the can is slightly reduced in volume, moving an indicator needle towards higher pressure. If the atmospheric pressure goes down, the can expands slightly and the needle indicates lower pressure. Some barometers in the past used special graph paper to track changing pressure over time; now, they report electronic signals to a computer, which plots the trends of pressure on computer monitors.
MORE ON TYPHOONS: TYPHOONS THAT HIT THE PHILIPPINES
Typhoon HaiphongOctober 8, 1881 Highest Wind Speed: 185 km/h |
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Typhoon AmyDecember, 1951 Highest Wind Speed: 225 km/h |
Typhoon nitangAugust 26, 1984 Highest Wind Speed: 233 km/h |
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Typhoon uring
November 4, 1991 Highest Wind Speed: 75 km/h |
Typhoon RemingNovember 25, 2006 Highest Wind Speed: 250 km/h |
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Typhoon pabloDecember 3, 2012 Highest Wind Speed: 185 km/h |
Typhoon ondoySeptember 23, 2009 Highest Wind Speed: 168 km/h |
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Typhoon Yolanda
November 8, 2013 Highest Wind Speed: 315 km/h |