Hypercane: Difference between revisions
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A '''hypercane''' is a hypothetical class of extreme [[tropical cyclone]] that could form if ocean temperatures reached around {{convert|50|°C|°F}}, 15 °C higher than the warmest ocean temperature ever recorded<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/temp.html&edu=high |title=Temperature of Ocean Water |publisher=[[University Corporation for Atmospheric Research]] |work=Windows to the Universe |date=2001-08-31 |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</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>{{cite web |url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=30308 |title=The Dawn of the Hypercane? |first=Stephen |last=Leahy |publisher=[[Inter Press Service]] |date=2005-09-16 |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</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>{{cite journal |title=Did storms land the dinosaurs in hot water? |first=Jeff |last=Hecht |journal=[[New Scientist]] |date=1995-02-04 |url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14519632.600-did-storms-land-the-dinosaurs-in-hot-water.html |issue=1963 |pages=p. 16 |accessdate=2008-07-24 }}</ref> The term was coined by atmospheric scientist [[Kerry Emanuel]] in 1994, at [[MIT]].<ref name="MIT">{{cite web |url=http://wind.mit.edu/~emanuel/holem/holem.html |title=Limits on Hurricane Intensity |first=Kerry |last=Emanuel |publisher=[[Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography]], [[MIT]] |date=1996-09-16 |accessdate=2008-07-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Hypercanes: A Possible Link to Global Extinction Scenarios |first=Kerry |last=Emanuel |coauthors=Kevin Speer, Richard Rotunno, Ramesh Srivastava, Mario Molina |journal= |date=1998-03-22 |volume=100 |issue=D7 |pages=pp. 13755–13765 |journal=[[Journal of Geophysical Research]] |url=http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1995/95JD01368.shtml |accessdate=2008-07-24 }}</ref> | |||
==Physical description== | |||
Hypercanes would have wind speeds of over {{convert|800|km/h|mph}}, and would also have a central pressure of less than {{convert|700|hPa|inHg|lk=on}}, giving them an enormous lifespan.<ref name="MIT" /> The extreme conditions needed to create such a storm could conceivably produce a system up to the size of [[North America]], creating [[storm surge]]s of {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=off}} and an eye nearly {{convert|300|km|mi}} across. The waters could remain hot enough for weeks, allowing more hypercanes to be formed. A hypercane's clouds would reach {{convert|30|km|mi}} into the [[stratosphere]]. A hypercane would also damage the earth's [[ozone]].<ref name="MIT" /> Water molecules in the stratosphere would react with [[ozone]] to accelerate decay into O<sub>2</sub> and reduce absorption of [[ultraviolet light]]. | |||
Other scientists have theorized that the system, compared to a normal [[hurricane]], would be considerably smaller, about 10 miles in diameter. This would be more comparable to a [[tornado]], which has been recorded at up to about 2.5 miles.<ref>{{cite web | author=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] Storm Prediction Center | title=The Online Tornado FAQ | year=Apr 4, 2006 | url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#History | accessdate=2008-09-11}}</ref> | |||
== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | |||
[[Category:Tropical cyclone meteorology]] | [[Category:Tropical cyclone meteorology]] | ||
[[Category:Weather hazards]] | |||
Latest revision as of 02:09, 17 May 2009
A hypercane is a hypothetical class of extreme tropical cyclone that could form if ocean temperatures reached around Template:Convert/°C, 15 °C higher than the warmest ocean temperature ever recorded[1]— which could in turn be caused by a large asteroid or comet impact, a large volcanic or supervolcanic eruption, or very extensive global warming.[2] There is some speculation that some dinosaurs might have been killed off by a series of hypercanes, resulting from an asteroid or comet crashing into Earth.[3] The term was coined by atmospheric scientist Kerry Emanuel in 1994, at MIT.[4][5]
Physical description
Hypercanes would have wind speeds of over Template:Convert/km/h, and would also have a central pressure of less than Template:Convert/hPa, giving them an enormous lifespan.[4] The extreme conditions needed to create such a storm could conceivably produce a system up to the size of North America, creating storm surges of 18 metres ({{rnd/cTemplate:Rnd/b|59|(1−1)|0}} ft) and an eye nearly 300 kilometres ({{rnd/cTemplate:Rnd/b|190|(1−2)|0}} mi) across. The waters could remain hot enough for weeks, allowing more hypercanes to be formed. A hypercane's clouds would reach 30 kilometres ({{rnd/cTemplate:Rnd/b|19|(1−1)|0}} mi) into the stratosphere. A hypercane would also damage the earth's ozone.[4] Water molecules in the stratosphere would react with ozone to accelerate decay into O2 and reduce absorption of ultraviolet light.
Other scientists have theorized that the system, compared to a normal hurricane, would be considerably smaller, about 10 miles in diameter. This would be more comparable to a tornado, which has been recorded at up to about 2.5 miles.[6]
References
- ↑ "Temperature of Ocean Water". Windows to the Universe. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. 2001-08-31. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/temp.html&edu=high. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
- ↑ Leahy, Stephen (2005-09-16). "The Dawn of the Hypercane?". Inter Press Service. http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=30308. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
- ↑ Hecht, Jeff (1995-02-04). "Did storms land the dinosaurs in hot water?". New Scientist (1963): p. 16. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14519632.600-did-storms-land-the-dinosaurs-in-hot-water.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Emanuel, Kerry (1996-09-16). "Limits on Hurricane Intensity". Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, MIT. http://wind.mit.edu/~emanuel/holem/holem.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
- ↑ Emanuel, Kerry; Kevin Speer, Richard Rotunno, Ramesh Srivastava, Mario Molina (1998-03-22). "Hypercanes: A Possible Link to Global Extinction Scenarios". Journal of Geophysical Research 100 (D7): pp. 13755–13765. http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1995/95JD01368.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
- ↑ NOAA Storm Prediction Center (Apr 4, 2006). "The Online Tornado FAQ". http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#History. Retrieved on 2008-09-11.