Tropical cyclones versus extratropical cyclones
While both types of cyclones are low pressure areas, there are some key differences between the storms.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), tropical cyclones require several specific conditions to form, including:
- Ocean waters of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, often within 300 miles from the equator
- Rapid cooling at a certain height that allows for the release of heat
- Moist layers near the troposphere
- A pre-existing system of disturbed water
- Low amounts of vertical wind shear (high amounts disrupt storm formation)
Extratropical cyclones form a bit differently and have different overall structures. As their name implies, extratropical cyclones form away from the tropical zones where tropical cyclones originate. They tend to form:
- Along the U.S. Eastern seaboard, north of Florida
- From the southern half of Chile down in South America
- In the waters near England and continental Europe
- Southeastern tip of Australia
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