A cyclone is any kind of major storm defined by a circular motion and low pressure center. Tornadoes are actually a type of cyclone. Cyclones can happen world wide, but are called by different names depending upon the area of the globe they occur in. So is there a difference between cyclone and hurricane?

A hurricane is a type of cyclone. Cyclone is the overall definition and the two types of tropical cyclones are called hurricanes and typhoons. Hurricanes - are the tropical cyclones, that occur in the Atlantic Ocean region. Typhoons are tropical cyclones that happen in the Pacific Ocean region. There has to be specific water and atmospheric conditions to cause a hurricane or typhoon. Usually, the water temperature has to be over eighty degrees. The rising heat causes water condensation and fuels the circular motion. The term tropical refers to the area where it is formed and the typical area of landfall. Atlantic based hurricanes are basically spawned from two specific locations: The West Coast of Africa and the Gulf of Mexico.

There is a counterclockwise rotation of those cyclones in the Northern hemisphere and a clockwise rotation for those cyclones in the Southern hemisphere. The strength of the storm can dictate what the storm is actually called. At a lower strength, a cyclone can be referred to as a tropical depression. As it increases in intensity, it becomes a tropical storm and then a typhoon or hurricane. Another name is cyclonic storm.

Since a hurricane is a type of cyclone, there isn't any validity in the quest for the difference between cyclone and hurricane. They are, in essence, one in the same. It is like asking the question of what is the difference between fruit and an apple. An apple is a type of fruit.

Cyclones are steered by prevailing winds. The tropical cyclones called typhoons and hurricanes are designated by the development of a closely formed center called the eye. When a typhoon or hurricane is based over the water, the winds and moisture can accelerate the wind speed and intensity of the storm. The cyclonic process is actually a method of the earth's function to pull the hot air away from the tropical areas and acts as a cooling agent for the earth.

Meteorologists use the Saffir-Simpson Scale to measure the intensity of a hurricane. The measurement itself is based on three criteria: Wind velocity, central barometric pressure and the amount of damage that the storm can inflict. They start with a measurement of a Category One and elevate to the strongest hurricane at a Category Five. Once a storm has been designated as a hurricane, it is given a name. Typhoons, typically are not named.

A typhoon and hurricane build up intensity when they are over water. The ocean fuels the intensity. However, as a typhoon or hurricane enters a land mass, the water factor is removed and the intensity slows down. As long as the storm doesn't re-enter water, it is typically downgraded after the initial land strike.

2 Responses to “Difference Between Cyclone and Hurricane”

1. 1
   Adam Says:
   

   omg!.. now comes another big hurricane… I hope it’ll go away as fast as possible

   August 31st, 2010 at 2:52 pm
2. 2
   best way getting over heartbreak Says:
   

   Usually I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really forced me to do so! Thanks, really nice article.

   August 29th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

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