What is a Cyclone?

Question

I heard about the Cyclone that hit somewhere across the ocean and killed more than 200 people and i was just wondering what a cyclone was.

Answer 1

In this case, it is a strong tropical cyclone or what we in the United States would define as a Hurricane.

But the simple definition of a "cyclone" as defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which is part of the United Nations is as follows:

"Cyclone (depression, low, low-pressure area) Area in the atmosphere in which the pressures are lower than those of the surrounding region at the same level. It is represented on a synoptic chart by a system of isobars at a specified altitude level (or a system of contours at a specified pressure level) which enclose relatively low values of pressure (or altitude). "

So a tornado is also a cyclone by definition, however in a much smaller scale. But you really need a better word to separate the different types of cyclones. So the United States came up with Hurricane, other nations gave names like Typhoons, Strong Tropical Cyclone (*Which is what this was called with this system in South Asia), or several other names that exist around the world.

Answer 2

A cyclonic storm or a cyclone(similar to hurricanes in the Atlantic ocean) is an intense vortex or a whirl in the atmosphere with very strong winds circulating around it in an anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere.
Further details are given below.
Cyclones are intense low pressure areas-- from the centre of which pressure increase outwards.The amount of the pressure drop in the centre and the rate at which it increases outwards gives the intensity of the cyclones and the strength of the winds.
Cyclone is the name given to the tropical revolving storms forming over the Arabian sea,Bay of Bengal and the Indian oceans.As per the criteria followed by the India Meteorological Department,if the associated wind speed exceeds 34 knots,then it is classified as cyclone.
A full-grown cyclone is violent whirl in the atmosphere 150 to 1000 Km across,10 to 15 Km high.Gale winds of 150 to 250 Kmph or more spiral around the centre of very low pressure area with 30 to 100 hpa below the normal sea level pressure.The central calm region of the storm is called 'eye'.The diameter of the eye varies from 30 to 50 Kms and is a region free of clouds and has light winds.Around this calm and clear eye, there is the'wallcloud region' of the storm about 50 Km in extent,where the gale winds,thick clouds with torrential rain,thunder and lightning prevail.The gales gives rise to confused sea with waves as high as 20 metres(swells) that travel hundreds of miles.While crossing the shore,storm surges as high as 3 to 12 metres are possible.

Answer 3

Wow people. Do some research before you post nonsense answers you "think" is correct:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cyclone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone

In the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, including the Hawaiian islands, they are called hurricanes, in the western Pacific they are called typhoons and in the southern Pacific and the Indian Ocean they are called cyclones.

Answer 4

NO,NO,NO. A CYCLONE IS A HURRICANE THAT'S CALLED SOMETHING ELSE IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD. IN THE U.S., WE CALL IT A HURRICANE. NEAR ASIA, THEY CALL IT A CYCLONE. A TYPHHON IS THE SAME THING TOO. A CYCLONE IS NOT!!! A TORNADO!!!!!!

Answer 5

a cyclone is like a tornado, but in the southern hemisphere. it is caused by extreme low pressure making the air spin around it. they usually form over water and can flatten cities

Answer 6

It is similar to a tornado but it comes to land from the sea or ocean. Another name is: twister.