What causes hurricanes to build up to be so powerful?

Question

What causes hurricanes to build up to be so powerful?

Answer 1

The climate of the location its at. Because the hotter it is the stronger it will be.

Answer 2

The answer in a word: heat. Hurricanes form over tropical water which is very warm. So warm moist air rises and condenses into clouds which build as more warm moist air rises. This mass of clouds gains a cyclonic spin (counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern) due to something called the coreolis force which is caused because of the spin of the earth. At the same time, the pressure differences in the atmosphere cause the stron winds. At the center of the storm there is a large amount of warm air which is less dense and therefore has less pressure. Everywhere else the air is slightly cooler and therefore at a higher pressure. This creates a pressure gradient, air will always move from high to low pressure. Hence the great cyclonic winds of a hurricane. This causes another part of destruction, the storm surge. This is because of pressure as well. Becasue the pressure is so low at the center of the storm, it actually causes the surface of the ocean to bulge and locally rise. Anyway, I hope this helps. If you have any more questions please ask me!

Cheers,

Andrew