Understanding typhoons

UNDERSTANDING TYPHOONS

WHY IS THE PHILIPPINES PRONE TO TYPHOONS?

What conditions favor the formation of

typhoons?

Questions:

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), about 20 tropical cyclones

hit the PAR each year.

What is a typhoon?”

TROPICAL CYCLONE CATEGORIES

CATEGORY MAXIMUM WIND SPEEDKILOMETERS PER HOUR

(kph)

Tropical Depression

64 kph

Tropical Storm 118 kph

Typhoon 200

Supertyphoon Greater than 200

PLOTTING THE PHILIPPPINE RE OF RESPONSIBILITY (PAR)

Under what conditions do tropical cyclones form?

1. Where did the tropical cyclones

form? On land or in the ocean?

The warm ocean water

heats up the air above it. The warm air then

rises. The rising water results in a low pressure area. Air in the surroundings

will then move toward the area.

What can you say about the temperature of the bodies of water in

the vicinity of the Philippines?

Warm or cold?

How does it affect

the formation

of cyclones?

In what direction did the tropical cyclones move?

Where did they start? Where did they end?

Position of the ITCZ in Summer & Winter Seasons, following the direct rays of the Sun. Tropical Cyclone development in

the Philippines peaks during July-August on where the ITCZ is located, while TC development over Northern Australia tends to peak around January-February when the ITCZ is over that

area.

Strong ITCZ dominating the Western Pacific Ocean, showing the formation of three tropical cyclones as the Killer

Ondoy moves west.

Movement & Speed Of Tropical Cyclones

Over the Philippine Sea, Tropical Cyclones tend to move on a general west-

northwest (WNW) direction with an average speed of

19-20 km/hr.

DEATH OF TYPHOON

Tracking a tropical cyclone

Where is air pressure very low?

Location A B C D Air pressure in millibars 930 960 980 990

Where is wind speed very high?

Location E F

Wind speed (km/hour) 10 200

ARE YOU PREPARED??