Cyclones

Cyclones basically look like a windy storm, except the rain falls sideways. All cyclones consist of a cylindrical shape and have what we call an 'Eye' in the middle. 'The Upward flow of air is deflected by the Coriolis effect (winds deflection by the Earth's rotation) creating rotation around a central core...' This is how the Eye is made. (Quote from 'Geoactive 2 stage 5 Third edition.)

The eye can be ten kilometres across to one hundred across, maybe even bigger. Because of the low air pressure in the middle the eye has completely clear weather with a bit wind, rain and maybe even some sunshine. A cyclone begins to form over the ocean and needs two things: Waters of twenty six degrees or higher and a low air pressure system. They need the warm waters for evaporation. Once evaporation occurs, cloud begin to form and the low air pressure system, if there is one, starts pulling the clouds upwards, in an anticlockwise fashion.

This is either when a cyclone 'Matures' or dies out from a lack of power, if the cyclone has enough rotation and water it can 'mature' can carry it's self to the land. Even when the cyclone has fully matured it can still gain speed and increase in size. This increase stops when the cyclone reaches land because of a lack of moisture and heat.

CYCLONE INGRID (AUSTRALIA)

Cyclone Ingrid occurred on the 3-17 of March 2005.

Cyclone Ingrid first came across Australia by crossing just south of Lockhart river on the east coast of Queensland, at that time is was classified as a Category 4. Ingrid then moved across the Gulf of Carpentaria 70km south of Weipa and tore through the Northern Territory still as a Category 4. It then increased speed to a Category 5 as it damaged the small islands just north of the Arnhem coast. Ingrid crossed Croker Island and the Cobourg Peninsula dropping back down to a Category 4. The wind speeds dropped again to a Category 3 as it passed through the Tiwi Islands, barely missing Darwin; It finally died as a Category 4 in Western Australian Kimberley coast.