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SCIENCE
Quarter 2 – Module 4B
UNDERSTANDING TYPHOON

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 Lesson
Inside Tropical Cyclones
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One thing about tropical cyclones that we should watch out for are the strong winds. Let us now take a peek inside a tropical
cyclone and find out in which part would we experience strong winds.

Activity 1 Dissecting a tropical cyclone (ANSWER ONLY-Q7 & Q8)

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.

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:

Compare the air pressures at A, B, C and D. What do you notice? ______________________________

Q8. 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:

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

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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.

Tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone, also called typhoon or hurricane, an intense
circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is
characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.
Drawing energy from the sea surface and maintaining its strength as long
as it remains over warm water, a tropical cyclone generates winds that
exceed 119 km (74 miles) per hour. In extreme cases winds may exceed
240 km (150 miles) per hour, and gusts may surpass 320 km (200 miles)
per hour. Accompanying these strong winds are torrential rains and a
devastating phenomenon known as the storm surge, an elevation of the
sea surface that can reach 6 meters (20 feet) above normal levels. Such a
combination of high winds and water makes cyclones a serious hazard for
coastal areas in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Every year during the late summer months (July–September in the
Northern Hemisphere and January–March in the Southern Hemisphere), cyclones strike regions as far apart as the Gulf
Coast of North America, northwestern Australia, and eastern India and Bangladesh.

Tropical cyclones are known by various names in different parts of the world. In the North Atlantic Ocean and the
eastern North Pacific they are called hurricanes, and in the western North Pacific around the Philippines, Japan, and China the
storms are referred to as typhoons. In the western South Pacific and Indian Ocean they are variously referred to as severe
tropical cyclones, tropical cyclones, or simply cyclones. All these different names refer to the same type of storm.

Tropical depression, tropical storm, typhoon, and super typhoon are categories of tropical cyclones (Table 1). In
simple terms, a tropical cyclone is a system of thunderstorms that are moving around a center. As the winds intensify or
weaken, the category is upgraded or downgraded accordingly.

The term typhoon is used only in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. In the northeastern part of the Pacific
Ocean and in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, the equivalent term is hurricane. Thus, a hurricane on one side of the
Pacific Ocean will be called a typhoon if it crosses into the other side.

In the Philippines, we use the same word for all categories of tropical cyclones. We call it bagyo whether it is a
tropical depression, a tropical storm or a typhoon.

Lesson

2 PUBLIC STORM WARNING

SIGNALS (PSWS)
When any Public Storm Warning Signal Number is hoisted or put in effect for the first time, the corresponding
meteorological conditions are not yet prevailing over the locality. This is because the purpose of the signal is to warn the
impending occurrence of the given meteorological conditions. It must be noted also that the approximate lead time to expect
the range of the wind speeds given for each signal number is valid only when the signal number is put in effect for the first
time. Thus, the associated meteorological conditions are still expected in at least 36 hours when PSWS #1 is put in effect
initially; in at least 24 hours with PSWS #2; in at least 18 hours with PSWS #3, in at least 12 hours with PSWS #4; and in at

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least 12 hours with PSWS #5. The lead time shortens correspondingly in the subsequent issues of the warning bulletin when
the signal number remains in effect as the tropical cyclone comes closer.
It is also important to remember that tropical cyclones are constantly in motion; generally, towards the Philippines
when PAGASA is issuing the warning. Therefore, the Public Storm Warning Signal Number over a threatened/ affected
locality may be sequentially upgraded or downgraded. This means that PSWS #1 may be be upgraded to PSWS #2, then to
PSWS #3, PSWS #4 and to PSWS #5 as necessary when a very intense typhoon is approaching or downgraded when the
typhoon is moving away. However, in case of rapid improvement of the weather condition due to the considerable weakening
or acceleration of speed of movement of the tropical cyclone moving away from the country, the downgrading of signal may
jump one signal level. For example, PSWS #3 may be downgraded to PSWS #1 or all signals from PSWS #2 may be lowered.

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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. In times of disaster, it may take a while before help arrives.

Assessment (ANSWER ONLY)

Directions: Read each item carefully and encircle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer.
1. Which of the following is characterized by counter clockwise rotating air mass around a central part called eye that
has a low pressure?
A. Hurricane C. tropical cyclone
B. Storm D. typhoon
2. What do you call the tropical cyclone that occurs in the Northwest Pacific Ocean?
A. Hurricane C. tropical cyclone
B. Storm D. typhoon
3. Which of the following conditions is NOT necessary for a tropical cyclone to form?
A. displacement of 5⁰ Latitude from equator
B. enhanced mid-troposphere relative humidity
C. stable winds conditions at the genesis site.
D. sufficient ocean thermal energy of more than 26.5⁰C.
4. What category of tropical cyclone has a maximum wind speed of 118 km/h?
A. Tropical Depression C. Typhoon
B. Tropical Storm D. Super Typhoon

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 5. Once a typhoon has developed, what factor is very much needed to supply the abundance of water needed for its
development?
A. cold air C. low humidity
B. high humidity D. warm water

True or False (ANSWER ONLY)

Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it’s wrong.

____________ 1. A typhoon will weaken if the water is not warm enough.

____________ 2. If a typhoon landed, it increases its sustained wind and heavy rains.
____________ 3. In the Philippines, most typhoons develop in the large bodies of Indian Ocean.
____________ 4. Typhoons gain their energy from moisture that evaporates from warm ocean water.
____________ 5. Even with warm water, a typhoon can encounter dry airmasses, which can enter into a typhoon and weaken
it or prevent it from strengthening.
____________6. The Philippines is considered as one of the typhoon-prone areas in the world.
____________7. The Philippines is prone to typhoon because of its optimal location in the Earth near the Equator.
____________8. Typhoons develop over large bodies of water and move by steering winds in the troposphere.
____________9. The Philippines is situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire which makes the country vulnerable to natural
calamities like typhoons.
____________10. One source of tropical cyclone formation is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) located away from
the tropic of cancer.