Inside Tropical Cyclones
Compare the air pressures at A, B, C and D.
One thing about tropical cyclones that we What do you notice?
should watch out for are the strong winds. Let us now
Q8.
take a peek inside a tropical cyclone and find out in
which part would we experience strong winds.
Activity 3
Dissecting a tropical cyclone
Objectives:
After performing this activity, you should be
able to:
1. explain what two weather factors tell
weathermen that a certain location is at
the eye of a tropical cyclone; and
2. put in simple words the statement “calm
before the storm.”
Materials Needed:
weather data (air pressure and wind speed)
Procedure:
1. Figure 1 consists of two illustrations. The top
one shows a tropical cyclone as seen at an
angle. White rain bands move around the
center or “eye”. The bottom illustration shows
a cross-section of a tropical cyclone. It is like
slicing it in half and looking at it from the side.
Figure 4. (Top) View of a tropical cyclone at an angle.
(Bottom) Cross-section of a typhoon.
Q7. Location A is within the eye of the tropical
cyclone. B, C and D are locations that are
more and more distant from the eye. The air
pressure at the different locations are:
Location A B C D
Air pressure*
in millibars 930 960 980 990 In times of disaster, it may take a while before help
(mb)
*Air pressure refers to the weight of air over
a certain area.
Location E is within the eye of the tropical
cyclone. Location F is within the clouds
surrounding the eye. The clouds at F make up
the eyewall. The wind speed at the two
locations are:
Location E F
Wind speed (km/hour) 10 200
Compare the wind speed within the eye and
at the eyewall. What can you say?
As you have learned from the activity, the
lowest air pressure is at the eye of a tropical cyclone.
In fact, all tropical cyclones have low air pressure at
the center. This is the reason why the air in the
surroundings move toward the eye. Recall in Grade 7
that air moves toward low-pressure areas.
You also learned that at the eye of a tropical
cyclone, wind speed is low. But in the dense clouds
surrounding the eye, at the eyewall itself, the wind
speed is great. When newspapers report that a
tropical cyclone has sustained winds of 200 km/hour,
for instance, they are referring to the winds at the
eyewall.
When the eye of a tropical cyclone passes
over a certain place, it is the winds at the eyewall
that wreak a lot of damage. As it approaches, one
side of the eyewall brings strong winds blowing in one
direction. Then comes the eye with its somewhat
calm weather. As it leaves, the other side of the
eyewall brings strong winds again, but this time in
the opposite direction.
Are You Prepared?
When a tropical cyclone enters the PAR and it
is on its way toward land, warning signals are issued.
The following signals are used by PAGASA to warn
people about the approaching weather disturbance.
Do you know what the signals mean?
To be fully prepared for tropical cyclones, you
should also put together an emergency kit which
includes the following: drinking water, canned goods,
can opener, radio, flashlight, extra batteries, clothes,
blanket, and first aid kit. You never know when you
will need it. You must learn how to rely on yourself.
arrives.