Causes
Storms are weather phenomena that form over the ocean through the release of energy generated by the evaporation and saturation of water on the ocean's surface. This process leads to heavy rain and strong winds, and when these storms approach land, they can cause significant damage and flooding to inhabited areas.
Consequences
When storms reach land, they can devastate populated areas, leading to destruction and flooding. The damage inflicted by these weather events often requires immediate response to mitigate their impact and aid affected communities.
Classification
Storms are referred to by different names depending on their region of origin:
- Storms forming in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific Oceans are called Hurricanes. These storms frequently affect the Caribbean region and the east coast of North and Central America. Most hurricanes occur between 1 June and 30 November, though there are rare cases outside this period.
- Storms forming in the Indian and south Pacific Oceans are called Cyclones, often affecting countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and nearby islands. Cyclones typically occur from October to May.
- Storms forming in the northwest Pacific Ocean are called Typhoons, which affect the Philippines and other regional islands, and sometimes reach as far as Japan and China. Typhoons can occur throughout the year.
Weather systems that intensify to become storms receive names assigned by designated weather centers, alternating between male and female names in alphabetical order. For example, during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, storm names began with: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, and Debby. These names are re-used each year, though if a storm is particularly powerful the name is retired afterwards.
The strength of storms is classified by different regional scales, such as the Saffir-Simpson Scale for hurricanes. The Saffir-Simpson scale uses five categories to indicate wind intensity, with Category 5 indicating winds exceeding 252 km/h. Powerful storms such as Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 – one of the most powerful storms recorded - have resulted in recent proposals to add a sixth category to the scale. Other regions use scales with five to seven categories for classification.
Satellite data
Since the 1960s, observations from space have been instrumental in monitoring storms. With decades of data and experience, scientists leverage satellite information to track storm formation and development. Satellites can detect changes in storm structure, wind speed, and cloud patterns surrounding the eye. They also measure sea surface temperature and height, which are indicators of storm intensity. Additionally, optical and radar imagery is used after storms to assess ground conditions, providing crucial information for first responders. 20% of International Charter: Space and Major Disasters activations are a result of storms.