What is the difference between Tornado and Cyclone?

Natural disasters are an unavoidable fact of life, and two of the most destructive and dangerous weather phenomena are tornadoes and cyclones. While both tornadoes and cyclones can cause significant damage and loss of life, they differ in many ways, including their formation, location, and size. This article will explore the differences between tornadoes and cyclones.

The difference between tornado and cyclone

A tornado is a violent, rapidly rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. They form over land, usually in areas where warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cool, dry air from Canada. When these two air masses collide, they create atmospheric instability, which can lead to the formation of tornadoes.

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This is what a tornado looks like:

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Tornadoes typically range from a few hundred feet to a mile in diameter and can move at speeds up to 70 miles per hour.

They are characterized by a funnel shape, formed by a rotating column of air. Tornadoes tend to be short-lived, lasting only minutes to hours, and they are generally more common in the United States than in other parts of the world.

A cyclone, on the other hand, is a weather phenomenon that occurs in tropical regions such as the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific. Cyclones are essentially the same as hurricanes and typhoons, but they occur in different parts of the world.

This is what a cyclone looks like:

🚨”Bay of Bengal Cyclone Warning”. A deep low pressure system is forming in the Bay of Bengal and is expected to affect weather conditions in the next 24 hours. #cyclone #IMDB pic.twitter.com/Qh0dzyGphb

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Cyclones are characterized by low pressure systems, strong winds and heavy rain. They can form over warm ocean waters and can be large, sometimes spanning hundreds of miles.

Unlike tornadoes, cyclones can last for days and travel great distances. They are also more predictable than tornadoes because they often follow predictable paths and are easier to track using modern technology.

Tornadoes and Cyclones

Here are the notable differences between tornadoes and cyclones

feature	tornado	cyclone
Place	forms on land	formed on warm seawater
size	Small, usually a few hundred feet to a mile in diameter	Large, sometimes spanning hundreds of miles in diameter
formation	Formed when warm, moist air encounters cool, dry air	forms over warm ocean water, usually in areas of low pressure
wind speed	Top speed of 300 mph	See more : Optical Illusion Eye Test: There is a Grasshopper Hidden in the Grass. Can You Spot it? Top speed of 200 mph
life	Usually of short duration, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours	Can last for several days
predictability	Can be unpredictable and difficult to track	Can be more predictable and easier to track
frequency	More common in the United States but can occur in other parts of the world	Occurs in tropical areas such as the Indian Ocean and South Pacific
Related hazards	Strong winds, heavy rain, hail, lightning and flying debris	Strong winds, heavy rain, storm surges and flooding

In summary, tornadoes and cyclones are both destructive weather phenomena, but they vary in location, size, and longevity. Tornadoes form over land, are smaller, and are often more difficult to predict, while cyclones form over warm water, are larger, and tend to be more predictable.

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion