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° 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 | A '''hypercane''' is a hypothetical class of extreme [[tropical cyclone]] that could form if ocean temperatures reached around {{convert|50|°C|°F}} —15° 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== | ==Physical description== | ||
Revision as of 04:52, 5 August 2008
A hypercane is a hypothetical class of extreme tropical cyclone that could form if ocean temperatures reached around Template:Convert/°C —15° 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] The reason for this is the water molecules sent up into the ozone layer merge with the ultraviolet light repelling particles the and disintegrate the particles, creating a hole in the vicinity.
In popular culture
- The anime Tactical Roar uses a fictional hypercane in the Pacific Ocean as a pretext to showcase naval battles, which are the series' focus.
- The science-fiction television series, Stargate Atlantis, featured a hypercane that threatened to destroy Atlantis in an episode titled " The Storm "
- The Future is Wild features hypercanes during the Pangaea II period of Earth, 200,000,000 years in the future.
- In the 2002 novel Minutes to Burn, by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz, hypercanes occur every three to four months after increased tectonic activity and a depleted ozone layer resulted in the tropical ocean raising in temperature.[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.
- ↑ Hurwitz, Gregg Andrew. "Chapter 7". Minutes to Burn. HarperCollins. pp. p.52. ISBN 0061015512.