Storm Defnition
As Val reminded me the other day, where you are in the world matters when defining a storm. Let me run down some quick definitions associated with north vs south of the equator. While I am at it – Atlantic and Pacific Ocean can also make a difference, in the nomenclature – but not in the basic principle and destructiveness of the storm.
1. Typhoon -a typhoon occurs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
2. Cyclone – A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the Northern.
3. Hurricane – A hurricane is a strong tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic Ocean or northeastern Pacific Ocean,
Fun (!) things to know: * When a hurricane passes west across the International Dateline in the Northern Hemisphere, it becomes known as a typhoon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane for all the details.
All of this is important only because Typhoon Jasper is starting up and may just affect the rest of this cruise and the leg beyond.
I am not including any photos today – it is a sea day and we will have a few more later on the next leg where I can do “pictures around the ship.”
