TLDR;
This video by Sir Wowie Studios explains the basics of typhoons, including the factors affecting their formation, their impact, and the role of land masses and bodies of water. It also differentiates typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones, labels the parts of a typhoon, identifies different tropical cyclone categories, and discusses why the Philippines is prone to typhoons.
- Weather vs climate
- Typhoon formation and its parts
- Factors affecting typhoon's strength
Introduction: Basics of Typhoons [0:00]
The video introduces the topic of typhoons, focusing on the factors that influence their formation and strength. It also mentions a thorough discussion of the different parts of a typhoon. The learning objectives include describing the nature and characteristics of typhoons and explaining the impact of land masses and bodies of water on typhoons.
Learning Objectives and Video Overview [1:06]
The objectives of the video are outlined, including defining and differentiating typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones, explaining how typhoons develop, labeling the parts of a typhoon, explaining the role of each part, identifying different categories of tropical cyclones, determining the effects of tropical cyclones, discussing why the Philippines is prone to tropical cyclones, investigating the impact of land masses and bodies of water on typhoons, and evaluating how geographic features lessen or worsen the impact of typhoons.
Review: Weather vs. Climate [2:46]
The video reviews the concepts of weather and climate, emphasizing that they are not interchangeable. Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific time and place, while climate refers to the long-term average of weather patterns over a long period, typically 30 years or more. Weather can change quickly, even within an hour, while climate is a long-term pattern that doesn't change rapidly.
Activity 1: Understanding Typhoon Impacts [6:19]
The first activity involves analyzing the impacts of Typhoon Yolanda through images and reports. Typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan, struck the Philippines on November 8, 2013, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The storm claimed around 6,300 lives, injured more than 28,000, and left over 1,000 missing, with damages estimated at approximately 95.5 billion pesos (2.2 billion USD). The devastation was exacerbated by a storm surge, which is a large wave produced by a tropical cyclone, and low levels of preparedness among the population.
Typhoon Formation and the Philippines [12:51]
Typhoons often form in the Pacific Ocean and affect the Philippines because the country lies along warm waters, which are ideal conditions for typhoon formation. The Philippines is located beside the Northwest Pacific Ocean, one of the most active regions for tropical cyclones. The Pacific Ocean is a giant energy generator due to its warm waters, high evaporation levels, and constant thunderstorms. The Philippines is also situated in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), where north and southern winds meet, creating ideal conditions for typhoon formation.
Typhoon Alley and Preparedness [15:37]
The Philippines lies in the typhoon alley, experiencing around 20 typhoons each year, with 8 to 9 making landfall. Many are strong or even reach super typhoon levels. This necessitates high preparedness, including being well-informed and equipped with early warning systems. However, many communities remain vulnerable due to a lack of support and typhoon-resistant housing.
Activity 2: Building Typhoon Vocabulary [18:27]
The second activity focuses on building vocabulary related to typhoons. Key terms include:
- Typhoon: A storm with wind speeds of 118 to 184 km/h, posing a significant threat to life and property.
- Eyewall: The part of the typhoon around the eye with the strongest winds and rains, potentially reaching 200 miles per hour.
- Storm Surge: A temporary rise in sea level along the coast caused by strong winds and low atmospheric pressure, leading to coastal flooding.
- Eye: The center part of the storm, which is calm.
Tropical Cyclone Categories [20:26]
The different categories of tropical cyclones are defined:
- Tropical Depression (TD): Maximum sustained winds of up to 61 km/h.
- Tropical Storm: Maximum sustained winds of 62 to 88 km/h.
- Severe Tropical Storm: Maximum sustained winds of 89 to 117 km/h.
- Typhoon: Maximum sustained winds of 118 to 184 km/h.
- Super Typhoon: Maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h or higher.
Classifying tropical cyclones helps in understanding their strength and preparing properly. A super typhoon is the most dangerous, capable of destroying strong buildings and infrastructure, bringing intense rain, massive storm surges, and catastrophic damages.
Activity 3: The Birth of a Typhoon [23:51]
The third activity explains how a typhoon forms, starting over warm ocean waters where heat and moisture rise into the atmosphere. As the air rises, it cools and forms clouds, while more warm air rushes in to take its place. This continuous cycle creates strong winds and heavy clouds, leading to the birth of a typhoon.
Stages of Typhoon Formation [25:33]
The stages of typhoon formation are:
- Thunderstorm Development: Tropical thunderstorms serve as the initial stage, harnessing moisture from the ocean through strong winds.
- Evaporation and Moisture: Warm water evaporates, and moist air rises and cools, releasing heat that fuels the storm.
- Eye Formation: Heat and air flow towards the eye, forming the typhoon's center.
- Coriolis Effect: The Earth's rotation causes the storm to spin. Without the Coriolis effect, the system would collapse.
Essential Conditions for Typhoon Formation [31:34]
Essential conditions for a typhoon to form include warm ocean water, moist air, and the Coriolis effect. Warm ocean water provides heat and moisture that fuel the storm. The stages of typhoon development start with thunderstorms, which develop into a low-pressure area, strengthen into a cyclone, and mature with an eye.
Typhoons, Cyclones, and Hurricanes [34:04]
Typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones are the same type of storm but are named differently depending on the region. Typhoons are known in the Northwest Pacific, hurricanes in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) plays a crucial role by causing air to rise and converge, initiating thunderstorms and low-pressure systems that may develop into typhoons.
Parts of a Typhoon [37:36]
The parts of a typhoon include:
- Eye: The calm center of the storm with calm winds and the lowest air pressure.
- Eyewall: The area surrounding the eye with the strongest winds and heaviest rains.
- Inner Rainbands: Moderate to high wind speeds with intermittent heavy rain.
- Outer Rainbands: The outer edges of the typhoon with light to moderate rainfall and gradually weakening winds.
Factors Affecting Typhoon Formation: Land Masses [41:50]
Land masses weaken typhoons because they have less water vapor compared to the ocean. Mountain ranges can cause orographic lifting, where wind rises quickly and drops most of its moisture on the windward side, weakening the storm. Cold air on top of mountains also prevents the building of typhoons, which need warmer air.
Factors Affecting Typhoon Formation: Bodies of Water [45:32]
Bodies of water provide the water necessary for evaporation to produce warm, moist air that fuels a typhoon. Warm ocean waters strengthen typhoons, while cold water weakens them. The abundant amount of water needed by typhoons is absent from land masses.
Formative Assessment [48:04]
The formative assessment includes questions about the factors contributing to typhoon formation, the vulnerability of coastal areas, the role of warm ocean waters, the influence of land masses on a typhoon's path, and why typhoons weaken as they move overland. Ocean surface temperature contributes most significantly to the formation and intensification of typhoons. Coastal areas are more vulnerable due to stronger storm surges. Warm ocean waters provide energy for evaporation and condensation. Land masses deflect the direction of typhoon movement, and typhoons tend to weaken as they move overland due to decreased moisture availability.
