Pacific Ocean

IN HELPING THE FORMATION OF TYPHOON

Traditionally, areas of tropical cyclone formation are divided into seven basins. These include the
north Atlantic Ocean, the eastern and western parts of the northern Pacific Ocean, the southwestern
Pacific, the southwestern and southeastern Indian Oceans, and the northern Indian Ocean (Arabian
Sea and Bay of Bengal). The western Pacific is the most active and the north Indian the least active. An
average of 86 tropical cyclones of tropical storm intensity form annually worldwide, with 47 reaching
hurricane/typhoon strength, and 20 becoming intense tropical cyclones, super typhoons, or major
hurricanes (at least of Category 3 intensity).

Official tropical cyclone basins

HOW DOES PACIFIC OCEAN HELPS IN FORMING TYPHOON?

In order for a typhoon to form, two things must be present: a weather disturbance, such as a thunderstorm,
that pulls in warm surface air from all directions and water at the ocean’s surface that is at least 80°
Fahrenheit (27° Celsius). Because it is the interaction of warm air and warm seawater that spawns these
storms, they form over tropical oceans between about 5 and 20 degrees of latitude. At these latitudes,
seawater is hot enough to give the storms strength and the rotation of the Earth makes them spin.

Typhoon start simply with the evaporation of warm seawater, which pumps water into the lower
atmosphere. This humid air is then dragged aloft when converging winds collide and turn upwards. At
higher altitudes, water vapor starts to condense into clouds and rain, releasing heat that warms the
surrounding air, causing it to rise as well. As the air far above the sea rushes upward, even more warm
moist air spirals in from along the surface to replace it.

As long as the base of this weather system remains over warm water and its top is not sheared apart by
high-altitude winds, it will strengthen and grow. More and more heat and water will be pumped into the
air. The pressure at its core will drop further and further, sucking in wind at ever increasing speeds. Over
several hours to days, the storm will intensify, finally reaching typhoon status when the winds that swirl
around it reach sustained speeds of 74 miles per hour or more.

Eventually, typhoon turn away from the tropics and into mid-latitudes. Once they move over cold water
or over land and lose touch with the hot water that powers them, these storms weaken and break apart.

Recent studies have shown a link between ocean surface temperatures and tropical storm intensity –
warmer waters fuel more energetic storms.

The Philippines belongs to the Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Pacific typhoon tracks between !980-2005

The Northwest Pacific Ocean is the most active basin on the planet, accounting for one-third of all
tropical cyclone activity. Annually, an average of 25.7 tropical cyclones in the basin acquire tropical
storm strength or greater; also, an average of 16 typhoons occurred each year during the 1968–1989
period. The basin occupies all the territory north of the equator and west of the International Date Line,
including the South China Sea. The basin sees activity year-round; however, tropical activity is at its
minimum in February and March.
Tropical storms in this region often affect China, Hong
Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, plus numerous Oceanian islands such
as Guam, the Northern Marianas and Palau. Sometimes, tropical storms in this region
affect Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and even Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The coast of China sees
the most landfalling tropical cyclones worldwide. The Philippines receives an average of 6–7 tropical
cyclone landfalls per year, with Super Typhoon Haiyan being the strongest and most powerful to date
since its landfall in November 8, 2013.