Hypercane

2007-05-16T00:30:02Z

63.3.18.1: /* Physical description */

A '''hypercane''' is a theoretical class of [[tropical cyclone]] that could form if ocean temperatures reached around 50° [[Celsius]] (122° [[Fahrenheit]])—15° higher than the warmest ocean temperature ever recorded.<ref>[http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/temp.html&edu=high Temperature of Ocean Water, Windows to the Universe]</ref>—which could in turn be caused by a large [[asteroid]] or [[comet]] impact, a large [[volcano|volcanic]] or [[supervolcano|supervolcanic]] eruption, or very extensive [[global warming]].<ref>[http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=30308 The Dawn of the Hypercane?]</ref> There is some speculation that some [[dinosaur]]s might have been killed off by a series of hypercanes, resulting from an asteroid or comet crashing into [[Earth]].<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14519632.600-did-storms-land-the-dinosaurs-in-hot-water.html Did storms land the dinosaurs in hot water?]</ref> The term was originally coined by atmospheric scientist [[Kerry Emanuel]] in [[1996]], at [[MIT]].<ref name="MIT">[http://wind.mit.edu/~emanuel/holem/holem.html Limits on Hurricane Intensity]</ref>

===Physical description===
Hypercanes would have wind speeds of over 500 miles per hour,130 [[m/s]], and would also have a central pressure of less than 700 [[hectopascal]]s, giving them an enormous lifespan. This storm would have been produced by the super heated ocean waters in the asteroid's impact or volcano eruption zone, creating conditions for a storm that would have been the size of North America, with a storm surge of 60+ feet and an eye nearly 200 miles accross. The waters would remain hot enough for weeks, allowing more hypercanes to be formed. A Hypercane's clouds would reach 20 miles into the Stratophere. <ref name="MIT"> <ref name="What You Need To Know about Hurricanes"-Discovery Channel>[http://wind.mit.edu/~emanuel/holem/holem.html Limits on Hurricane Intensity]</ref>

===Hypercanes in fiction===
The [[anime]] ''[[Tactical Roar]]'' uses a fictional hypercane in the [[Pacific Ocean]] as a pretext to showcase naval battles, which are the series' focus.

==References==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>

==See also==
{{tcportal}}
* [[Tropical cyclone]]
* [[Global warming]]

[[Category:Tropical cyclone meteorology]]

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Hypercane