View source for Hypercane

A '''hypercane''' is a theoretical class of [[tropical cyclone]] that could form if ocean temperatures reached around 50° [[Celsius]] (122° [[Fahrenheit]])&mdash;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>&mdash;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 130 [[m/s]], but would also have a central pressure of less than 700 [[hectopascal]]s, giving them an enormous lifespan.<ref name="MIT">[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==
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==See also==
{{tcportal}}
* [[Tropical cyclone]]
* [[Global warming]]

[[Category:Tropical cyclone meteorology]]