Where do Cyclones get there energy from ?

Question

Something i've been wondering sice cyclone Nargis in Burma.

Answer 1

They are caused by convergent wind patterns,  heating and an airmass that is favorable for development.   An organizing system can die if it runs into an area with wind shear.  This effectively cuts off the needed energy to continue as it is or to strengthen.     Listed below are some very good sites.

Answer 2

The sun and the rotation of the Earth.

Answer 3

Cyclones, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes, whirlwinds different words in different parts of the world for much the same meteorological phenomenon.

All deriving their energy from the sun - the ultimate and original source of all our energy (fossil fuels, biomass etc)..

Answer 4

The sun heats the tropical areas more than the polar regions. If there were no wind, then the tropics would keep getting hotter and hotter, and the poles would get colder and colder. The atmosphere's basic function is to redistribute heat from the equator to the poles, and tropical cyclones are one mechanism by which this occurs. However it is still quite remarkable that such a thing as a tropical cyclone should arise. It has been said that if we had not actually observed tropical cyclones then, despite all we know about the physics of the atmosphere, we would never have guessed at their existence.

For a cyclone to form several preconditions must be met:

1. Warm ocean waters (of at least 26.5°C) throughout a sufficient depth (unknown how deep, but at least on the order of 50 m). Warm waters are necessary to fuel the heat engine of the tropical cyclone.

2. An atmosphere which cools fast enough with height (is "unstable" enough) such that it encourages thunderstorm activity. It is the thunderstorm activity which allows the heat stored in the ocean waters to be liberated for the tropical cyclone development.

3. Relatively moist layers near the mid-troposphere (5 km). Dry mid levels are not conducive for allowing the continuing development of widespread thunderstorm activity.

4. A minimum distance of around 500 km from the equator. Some of the earth's spin (Coriolis force) is needed to maintain the low pressure of the system. (Systems can form closer to the equator but it's a rare event)

5. A pre-existing disturbance near the surface with sufficient spin (vorticity) and inflow (convergence). Tropical cyclones cannot be generated spontaneously. To develop, they require a weakly organised system with sizeable spin and low level inflow.

6. Little change in the wind with height (low vertical wind shear, i.e. less than 40 km/h from surface to tropopause). Large values of wind shear tend to disrupt the organisation of the thunderstorms that are important to the inner part of a cyclone.

Having these conditions met is necessary, but not sufficient as many disturbances that appear to have favourable conditions do not develop.

Answer 5

Warm Sea and they lose energy when they hit the land.

Answer 6

I though the same as Keeper.  I assume they are like hurricaines.  Info here though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pr...

Answer 7

I always thought it was the same as tornadoes, just over water.  Differences in air temperatures (on ground and in air) as well as two fronts colliding.

Answer 8

The energy of a cyclone is derived from the latent heat of condensation of the ascending moist air.That is why when they enter the land,their moisture source is cut off and consequently they get weakened.