Hypercane

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—which could in turn be caused by a large asteroid or comet impact, a large volcanic or supervolcanic eruption, or very extensive global warming. 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. The term was originally coined by atmospheric scientist Kerry Emanuel in 1996, at MIT.

Physical description

Hypercanes would have wind speeds of over 500 kilometers per hour (310.7 miles per hour),130 m/s, and would also have a central pressure of less than 700 hectopascals, giving them an enormous lifespan. Such a storm could potentially have been produced by the super-heated ocean waters in the asteroid's impact or volcano eruption zone, creating conditions for a storm that could conceivably have ended up the size of North America, with a storm surge of 60+ feet and an eye nearly 200 miles across. The waters would remain hot enough for weeks, allowing more hypercanes to be formed. A hypercane's clouds would reach 20 miles into the stratosphere.

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.

See also

• Tropical cyclone
• Global warming

Boston band