Editing Cyclone (section)

====Tropical====
{{main|Tropical cyclone}}
[[File:Dramatic Views of Hurricane Florence from the International Space Station From 9 12 (42828603210) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Hurricane Florence]] viewed from the [[International Space Station]]]]
A '''tropical cyclone''' is a [[storm system]] characterized by a [[Low-pressure area|low-pressure]] center and numerous [[thunderstorm]]s that produce strong winds and flooding rain.<ref name="StackPath">{{cite web |title=StackPath |url=https://www.laserfocusworld.com/home/article/14192224/tropical-cyclone#:~:text=View%20Image%20Gallery-,A%20tropical%20cyclone%20is%20a%20storm%20system%20characterized%20by%20a,contained%20in%20the%20moist%20air. |website=www.laserfocusworld.com | date=10 August 2011 |access-date=13 January 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414230334/https://www.laserfocusworld.com/home/article/14192224/tropical-cyclone#:~:text=View%20Image%20Gallery-,A%20tropical%20cyclone%20is%20a%20storm%20system%20characterized%20by%20a,contained%20in%20the%20moist%20air. |url-status=live }}</ref> A tropical cyclone feeds on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in [[condensation]] of [[water vapour]] contained in the moist air.<ref name="StackPath"/> They are fueled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic windstorms such as [[nor'easter]]s, [[European windstorm]]s, and [[polar low]]s, leading to their classification as "warm core" storm systems.<ref name="StackPath"/><ref name = "AOML FAQ A7"/>

The term "tropical" refers to both the geographic origin of these systems, which form almost exclusively in [[Tropics|tropical]] regions of the globe,<ref name="laserfocusworld.com">{{cite web |title=StackPath |url=https://www.laserfocusworld.com/home/article/14192224/tropical-cyclone#:~:text=View%20Image%20Gallery-,A%20tropical%20cyclone%20is%20a%20storm%20system%20characterized%20by%20a,contained%20in%20the%20moist%20air |website=www.laserfocusworld.com | date=10 August 2011 |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414230334/https://www.laserfocusworld.com/home/article/14192224/tropical-cyclone#:~:text=View%20Image%20Gallery-,A%20tropical%20cyclone%20is%20a%20storm%20system%20characterized%20by%20a,contained%20in%20the%20moist%20air |url-status=live }}</ref> and their dependence on [[Air mass#Classification and notation|Maritime Tropical air masses]] for their formation. The term "cyclone" refers to the storms' cyclonic nature, with [[counterclockwise]] rotation in the [[Northern Hemisphere]] and clockwise rotation in the [[Southern Hemisphere]].<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/> Depending on their location and strength, tropical cyclones are referred to by other names, such as [[hurricane]], [[typhoon]], [[tropical storm]], [[cyclonic storm]], [[tropical depression]], or simply as a cyclone.<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/>

While tropical cyclones can produce extremely powerful winds and torrential rain, they are also able to produce high waves and a damaging [[storm surge]].<ref name="oxfo">{{cite journal |last1=Shultz |first1=James M. |last2=Russell |first2=Jill |last3=Espinel |first3=Zelde |title=Epidemiology of Tropical Cyclones: The Dynamics of Disaster, Disease, and Development |journal=Epidemiologic Reviews |date=July 2005 |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=21–35 |doi=10.1093/epirev/mxi011 |pmid=15958424 }}</ref> Their winds increase the wave size, and in so doing they draw more heat and moisture into their system, thereby increasing their strength. They develop over large bodies of warm water,<ref name="AOML FAQ A15">{{cite web|author=Chris Landsea |title=Frequently Asked Questions: How do tropical cyclones form? |date=2009-02-06 |publisher=[[NOAA]] |access-date=2006-07-26 |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A15.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827030639/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A15.html |archive-date=2009-08-27 |author-link=Chris Landsea }}</ref> and hence lose their strength if they move over land.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sim Aberson|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C2.html|title=Subject : C2) Doesn't the friction over land kill tropical cyclones?|access-date=2008-02-25|date=2009-02-06|archive-date=2012-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731202853/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/C2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This is the reason coastal regions can receive significant damage from a tropical cyclone, while inland regions are relatively safe from strong winds.<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/> Heavy rains, however, can produce significant flooding inland.<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/> Storm surges are rises in sea level caused by the reduced pressure of the core that in effect "sucks" the water upward and from winds that in effect "pile" the water up. Storm surges can produce extensive [[coastal flooding]] up to {{convert|40|km|mi}} from the coastline.<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/> Although their effects on human populations can be devastating, tropical cyclones can also relieve [[drought]] conditions.<ref name="2005 EPac outlook">[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]. [http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Epac_hurr/Epac_hurricane.html 2005 Tropical Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Outlook.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614024616/http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Epac_hurr/Epac_hurricane.html |date=2009-06-14 }} Retrieved on 2006-05-02.</ref> They also carry heat and energy away from the tropics and transport it toward [[temperate]] [[latitudes]],<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/> which makes them an important part of the global [[atmospheric circulation]] mechanism. As a result, tropical cyclones help to maintain equilibrium in the Earth's [[troposphere]].<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/>

Many tropical cyclones [[tropical cyclogenesis|develop]] when the atmospheric conditions around a weak disturbance in the atmosphere are favorable.<ref name="laserfocusworld.com"/> Others form when [[#Related cyclone types|other types of cyclones]] acquire tropical characteristics. Tropical systems are then moved by [[#Steering winds|steering winds]] in the [[troposphere]]; if the conditions remain favorable, the tropical disturbance intensifies, and can even develop an [[eye (cyclone)|eye]]. On the other end of the spectrum, if the conditions around the system deteriorate or the tropical cyclone makes landfall, the system weakens and eventually dissipates. A tropical cyclone can become extratropical as it moves toward higher latitudes if its energy source changes from heat released by condensation to differences in temperature between air masses.<ref name = "AOML FAQ A7"/> A tropical cyclone is usually not considered to become subtropical during its extratropical transition.<ref name=PadgetDecember2000>{{cite web|author = Padgett, Gary|url = http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2001/summ0012.htm|title = Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary for December 2000|year = 2001|access-date = 2006-03-31|archive-date = 2014-11-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070208/http://www.australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2001/summ0012.htm|url-status = live}}</ref>