what are the types of cyclones? Explain them?

1) Surface-based types
(i) These types of cyclones are tropical, extra tropical and subtropical.
(ii)Tropical cyclones form due to latent heat forced by heavy thunderstorm activity and are warm core.

2) Upper level types
(i) Upper level types of cyclones are polar, sub-polar or arctic cyclone (polar vertex) and TUTT cells.
(ii) Polar cyclones are vast areas of low pressure which strengthen in the winter and weaken in the summer.
(iii) Upper tropospheric cyclonic vertices also known as TUTT cells usually move slowly from east-northeast to west-southwest and generally do not extend below 20,000 feet in altitude.

3) Other types
(i) Other types are mesocyclones, tornadoes, dust devils, waterspouts and steam devils. These cyclones are usually severe and affect the coastlines badly.

View Full Answer

A cyclone is a weather system characterized by swirling winds and raging storms. Around the equator, a cyclone is particularly threatening because of its potential to damage property and bring torrential rains, even more so if it turns into a hurricane. The science behind cyclones will help you understand why, where and how this weather phenomena exists.

Tropical Cyclone

The National Weather Service defines a tropical cyclone as "a rotating system of clouds and thunderstorms that originated over tropical or sub-tropical areas." Typically, these areas are near the equator, including the East Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. One of the most severe cyclones occurred in 1970 in the Caribbean, killing 1 million people. As warm air rises above the sea and turns into clouds, lots of energy is released. This creates a severe storm, and can turn into a cyclone when combined with winds and moving areas of low pressure.
Mesocyclone
- A mesocyclone is a dense, swirling pack of cloud and winds between half a mile and six miles wide. To the eye, it looks like a thin, vertical band of black clouds that spins from beneath thunderclouds. A mesocyclone turns into a tornado if it hits the ground and continues to churn up wet, warm air. The United States experiences approximately 1,700 mesocyclones a year, with 50 percent of these turning into tornadoes.
Polar or Arctic Cyclones
- Arctic or polar cyclones occur in Antarctic regions and can reach up to 1,200 miles wide. Polar cyclones differ with others because they are not seasonal. They can occur at any time of the year, unlike in the Gulf of Mexico when during late summer, the risk of a hurricane increases. Polar cyclones can also form quickly (sometimes less than 24 hours), and their direction or movement cannot be predicted. Plus, they can last from a day up to several weeks. Most frequently, polar cyclones develop above northern Russia and Siberia

The National Weather Service defines a tropical cyclone as "a rotating system of clouds and thunderstorms that originated over tropical or sub-tropical areas." Typically, these areas are near the equator, including the East Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. One of the most severe cyclones occurred in 1970 in the Caribbean, killing 1 million people. As warm air rises above the sea and turns into clouds, lots of energy is released. This creates a severe storm, and can turn into a cyclone when combined with winds and moving areas of low pressure.
Mesocyclone
- A mesocyclone is a dense, swirling pack of cloud and winds between half a mile and six miles wide. To the eye, it looks like a thin, vertical band of black clouds that spins from beneath thunderclouds. A mesocyclone turns into a tornado if it hits the ground and continues to churn up wet, warm air. The United States experiences approximately 1,700 mesocyclones a year, with 50 percent of these turning into tornadoes.
Polar or Arctic Cyclones
- Arctic or polar cyclones occur in Antarctic regions and can reach up to 1,200 miles wide. Polar cyclones differ with others because they are not seasonal. They can occur at any time of the year, unlike in the Gulf of Mexico when during late summer, the risk of a hurricane increases. Polar cyclones can also form quickly (sometimes less than 24 hours), and their direction or movement cannot be predicted. Plus, they can last from a day up to several weeks. Most frequently, polar cyclones develop above northern Russia and Siberia

The National Weather Service defines a tropical cyclone as "a rotating system of clouds and thunderstorms that originated over tropical or sub-tropical areas." Typically, these areas are near the equator, including the East Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. One of the most severe cyclones occurred in 1970 in the Caribbean, killing 1 million people. As warm air rises above the sea and turns into clouds, lots of energy is released. This creates a severe storm, and can turn into a cyclone when combined with winds and moving areas of low pressure.
Mesocyclone
- A mesocyclone is a dense, swirling pack of cloud and winds between half a mile and six miles wide. To the eye, it looks like a thin, vertical band of black clouds that spins from beneath thunderclouds. A mesocyclone turns into a tornado if it hits the ground and continues to churn up wet, warm air. The United States experiences approximately 1,700 mesocyclones a year, with 50 percent of these turning into tornadoes.
Polar or Arctic Cyclones
- Arctic or polar cyclones occur in Antarctic regions and can reach up to 1,200 miles wide. Polar cyclones differ with others because they are not seasonal. They can occur at any time of the year, unlike in the Gulf of Mexico when during late summer, the risk of a hurricane increases. Polar cyclones can also form quickly (sometimes less than 24 hours), and their direction or movement cannot be predicted. Plus, they can last from a day up to several weeks. Most frequently, polar cyclones develop above northern Russia and Siberia

The National Weather Service defines a tropical cyclone as "a rotating system of clouds and thunderstorms that originated over tropical or sub-tropical areas." Typically, these areas are near the equator, including the East Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. One of the most severe cyclones occurred in 1970 in the Caribbean, killing 1 million people. As warm air rises above the sea and turns into clouds, lots of energy is released. This creates a severe storm, and can turn into a cyclone when combined with winds and moving areas of low pressure.
Mesocyclone
- A mesocyclone is a dense, swirling pack of cloud and winds between half a mile and six miles wide. To the eye, it looks like a thin, vertical band of black clouds that spins from beneath thunderclouds. A mesocyclone turns into a tornado if it hits the ground and continues to churn up wet, warm air. The United States experiences approximately 1,700 mesocyclones a year, with 50 percent of these turning into tornadoes.
Polar or Arctic Cyclones
- Arctic or polar cyclones occur in Antarctic regions and can reach up to 1,200 miles wide. Polar cyclones differ with others because they are not seasonal. They can occur at any time of the year, unlike in the Gulf of Mexico when during late summer, the risk of a hurricane increases. Polar cyclones can also form quickly (sometimes less than 24 hours), and their direction or movement cannot be predicted. Plus, they can last from a day up to several weeks. Most frequently, polar cyclones develop above northern Russia and Siberia