Cyclone: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:53, 26 March 2024

An atmospheric cyclonic circulation, a closed circulation.

A cyclone's direction of rotation (counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere) is opposite to that of an anticyclone. While modern meteorology restricts the use of the term cyclone to the so-called cyclonic-scale circulations, it is popularly still applied to the more or less violent, small- scale circulations such as tornadoes, waterspouts, dust devils, etc. (which may in fact exhibit anticyclonic rotation), and even, very loosely, to any strong wind. The first use of this term was in the very general sense as the generic term for all circular or highly curved wind systems. Because cyclonic circulation and relative low atmospheric pressure usually coexist, in common practice the terms cyclone and low are used interchangeably. Also, because cyclones are nearly always accompanied by inclement (often destructive) weather, they are frequently referred to simply as storms.
See tropical cyclone, extratropical cyclone;
compare trough.

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+{{Term
-{{TermHeader}}
+|Display title=cyclone
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+|Definitions={{Definition
+|Num=1
-<div class="termentry">
+|Meaning=An atmospheric [[cyclonic circulation]], a [[closed circulation]].
-  <div class="term">
+|Explanation=A cyclone's direction of rotation (counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere) is opposite to  that of an [[anticyclone]]. While modern meteorology restricts the use of the term cyclone to the  so-called [[cyclonic scale|cyclonic-scale]] circulations, it is popularly still applied to the more or less violent, small-  scale circulations such as [[tornadoes]], [[waterspouts]], [[dust devils]], etc. (which may in fact exhibit  [[anticyclonic rotation]]), and even, very loosely, to any strong [[wind]]. The first use of this term was  in the very general sense as the generic term for all circular or highly curved wind systems. Because  [[cyclonic circulation]] and relative low atmospheric [[pressure]] usually coexist, in common practice  the terms cyclone and [[low]] are used interchangeably. Also, because cyclones are nearly always  accompanied by inclement (often destructive) weather, they are frequently referred to simply as  [[storms]]. <br/>''See'' [[tropical cyclone]], [[extratropical cyclone]]; <br/>''compare'' [[trough]].
-== cyclone ==
+}}
-  </div>
+}}
-<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">An atmospheric [[cyclonic circulation]], a [[closed circulation]].</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">A cyclone's direction of rotation (counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere) is opposite to  that of an [[anticyclone]]. While modern meteorology restricts the use of the term cyclone to the  so-called [[cyclonic-scale]] circulations, it is popularly still applied to the more or less violent, small-  scale circulations such as [[tornadoes]], [[waterspouts]], [[dust devils]], etc. (which may in fact exhibit  [[anticyclonic rotation]]), and even, very loosely, to any strong [[wind]]. The first use of this term was  in the very general sense as the generic term for all circular or highly curved wind systems. Because  [[cyclonic circulation]] and relative low atmospheric [[pressure]] usually coexist, in common practice  the terms cyclone and [[low]] are used interchangeably. Also, because cyclones are nearly always  accompanied by inclement (often destructive) weather, they are frequently referred to simply as  [[storms]]. <br/>''See'' [[tropical cyclone]], [[extratropical cyclone]]; <br/>''compare'' [[trough]].</div><br/> </div>
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-[[Category:Terms_C]]