How warm seas contribute to cyclone
frequency and strength
3
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
4
5
2
1
1. Sea surface temperatures rise above 26.5C
2. Water evaporates and warm, humid air rises
3. Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
4. The system spins as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
5. Once sustained winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
How warm seas contribute to cyclone frequency
and strength
3
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
4
5
2
1
1. Sea surface temperatures rise above 26.5C
2. Water evaporates and warm, humid air rises
3. Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
4. The system spins as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
5. Once sustained winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
How warm seas contribute to cyclone frequency
and strength
3
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
4
2
5
1
1. Sea surface temperatures rise above 26.5C
2. Water evaporates and warm, humid air rises
3. Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
4. The system spins as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
5. Once sustained winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
How warm seas
contribute to cyclone
frequency and strength
Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
The system spins
as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
Once sustained
winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
Water
evaporates and
warm, humid air rises
Sea surface temperatures
rise above 26.5C
How warm seas
contribute to cyclone
frequency and strength
Rising air cools, causing moisture to
condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
Cool air
The system spins
as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
Once sustained
winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
Eye
Eyewall
Water
evaporates and
warm, humid air rises
Sea surface temperatures
rise above 26.5C
How warm seas contribute to cyclone
frequency and strength
3
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
4
5
2
1
1. Sea surface temperatures rise above 26.5C
2. Water evaporates and warm, humid air rises
3. Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
4. The system spins as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
5. Once sustained winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
How warm seas contribute to cyclone frequency
and strength
3
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
4
5
2
1
1. Sea surface temperatures rise above 26.5C
2. Water evaporates and warm, humid air rises
3. Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
4. The system spins as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
5. Once sustained winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
How warm seas contribute to cyclone frequency
and strength
3
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
4
2
5
1
1. Sea surface temperatures rise above 26.5C
2. Water evaporates and warm, humid air rises
3. Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
4. The system spins as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
5. Once sustained winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
How warm seas
contribute to cyclone
frequency and strength
Rising air cools, causing moisture to condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
Cool air
Eye
Eyewall
The system spins
as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
Once sustained
winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
Water
evaporates and
warm, humid air rises
Sea surface temperatures
rise above 26.5C
How warm seas
contribute to cyclone
frequency and strength
Rising air cools, causing moisture to
condense into clouds. Droplets form, releasing even more heat to power the storm. Low pressure over the sea draws more air upwards
Cool air
The system spins
as air rushes to the centre to fill the low pressure void
Once sustained
winds reach 74mph, it is classified as a cyclone
Eye
Eyewall
Water
evaporates and
warm, humid air rises
Sea surface temperatures
rise above 26.5C