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Picture Courtesy:  ECONOMICTIMES

Context

The Philippines issued high alerts, halting work and classes, as Super Typhoon Ragasa,  which originated over western Pacific Ocean, made its approach toward the northern island of Luzon. 

Super Typhoons (Tropical Cyclones)

Tropical cyclones are intense, rotating storm systems with a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. They are known by different names in different parts of the world:

• Typhoon: In the Northwest Pacific Ocean (affecting East and Southeast Asia).
• Hurricane: In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific Oceans.
• Cyclone: In the South Pacific and Indian Oceans.

A Super Typhoon is an extremely intense typhoon, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds exceeding 240 km/h.

How are they Named?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) maintains rotating lists of names for cyclones. National meteorological agencies in affected regions often assign their own local names. For example, the Philippine agency PAGASA gives local names (like "Nando" for Ragasa) to typhoons entering its area of responsibility to make warnings more relatable to local citizens.

How do they form?

The formation of a powerful typhoon like Ragasa requires a specific set of conditions:

• Warm Ocean Waters: Sea surface temperatures must be above 26.5°C, providing the necessary heat and moisture to fuel the storm.
• Coriolis Force: The Earth's rotation provides the spin necessary for the cyclone to form. This is why these storms do not form at the Equator, where the Coriolis effect is zero.
• Low Vertical Wind Shear: Wind speeds at different altitudes must be relatively uniform. High wind shear rips a developing storm apart.
• Pre-existing Weather Disturbance: A low-level atmospheric disturbance acts as a seed for the storm to develop around.

Source: ECONOMICTIMES