BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE In the activity, the part marked as A and E is called the “eye” of a tropical
the activity, the part marked as A and E is called the “eye” of a tropical cyclone. It is also
called as the center or the core. The eyewall contains the clouds that surround the tranquil eye of a
BEFORE tropical cyclone (F). The white rainbands move around the eye. They are clouds and precipitation
Check the stability of hanging objects like ceiling fans and chandeliers. structures associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. The air spirals (counter-
Breakable items, harmful chemicals and flammable materials should stored properly in clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere) into the center. In
lowermost secured shelves. the upper levels, the air spirals outward away from the central area (Figure 5).
Familiarize yourself with the exit routes
Know where the fire extinguisher, first-aid kits, alarm and communication facilities are
located. Learn how to used them beforehand. TROPICAL CYCLONE: ARE YOU IN OR OUT?
Prepared a handy emergency supply kit with first-aid kit, canned food and can opener, It is the job of PAGASA to monitor all tropical cyclones that enter this area and is mandated to
water, clothing, blanket, battery operated radio, flashlights and extra batteries. make the necessary warnings. It has to issue bulletins every six hours for all tropical cyclones within
Conduct and participate in regular earthquake drills. this area that are anticipated to make landfall within the Philippines, or every 12 hours when cyclones
are not affecting land.
DURI DURING
Stay calm But even when a storm is still outside the PAR, PAGASA is already monitoring it. Everything
When you are INSIDE a structurally sound building or home, STAY THERE! shifts into high gear when the weather disturbance is already inside the PAR. It is now being closely
If possible, quickly open the door for exit observed and monitored by PAGASA. The agency issues warning signals to the public when a storm
Duck under a sturdy desk or table and hold to it , or protect your head with your arms. or typhoon is spotted within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Stay away from the glass windows, shelves, cabinet and other heavy objects. PAGASA can tell which areas of the country are likely to be affected by it in the next 24 hours.
Beware of falling objects. Be alert and keep your eyes open. Typhoons entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility are given a local name by PAGASA.
If you are OUTSIDE, move to an open area!
Stay away from trees, power lines, pots and concrete structures.
Move away from steep slopes which may be affected by landslides DIFFERENT PUBLIC STORM WARNING SIGNALS
If you are near the shore and feel an earthquake, especially if it is too strong, move quickly The PAGASA issues warning signals to the public when a storm or typhoon is spotted within
to higher ground. Tsunamis might follow. the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). PAGASA can tell which areas of the country are likely to
If you are in moving vehicle, STOP and get out! Do not attempt to cross bridges, be affected by it in the next 24 hours. Typhoons entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility are
overpasses or flyovers which may have been damaged. given a local name by PAGASA.
AFTER The storm signals are usually raised when an area in the Philippines is about to be hit by a
Expect aftershocks. Each time you feel one, drop, cover and hold on typhoon. As the tropical cyclone gains strength and or gets nearer to an area having a storm signal,
Check yourself from injuries. Protect yourself the warning may be upgraded to a higher one in that particular area (e.g., signal #1 warning for an
Listen to the battery –operated radio or television for the latest emergency information. area may be increased to signal #3). Conversely, as a tropical cyclone weakens and or gets farther to
Check others from injuries. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured an area, it may be downgraded to a lower signal or may be lifted to a no typhoon [Link] time
person unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. refers to the time people have to prepare. It shortens if a new weather bulletin is issued and the
Remember to help your neigboors who may require special assistance- infants, elderly and area’s Public Storm Signal Warning remains the same.
people with disabilities.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SIGNALS MEAN?
TROPICAL CYCLONES: SIMULATING WIND MOVEMENTS It is important to remember that tropical cyclones are constantly in motion; generally towards
In this simulation, the water the Philippines when PAGASA is issuing the warning. PAGASA forecasts the weather and gives
represents the wind going around the advance warning of weather disturbances. It assigns public storm signals to typhoons passing the
center of a tropical cyclone. In the northern country. The warning, if obeyed immediately, gives the time for people to take precautions and be
hemisphere, the winds blow in a counter- ready for the destruction that comes with the wind and rain.
clockwise direction. In the southern There are several factors that are being considered when a warning signal is being issued.
hemisphere, the winds spin around in the An area’s given signal number is based on the intensity, size of circulation and the forecast direction,
opposite direction, clockwise. and speed of the tropical storm or typhoon when the Public Storm Warning Signal is raised. Changes
The “funnel” in the center of the in intensity, size of circulation, or movement of the tropical cyclone also determines the change of the
spinning water represents the “eye” of a Public Storm Warning Signal in a given area.
tropical cyclone. When scientists talk about Storm surge is possible depending on the intensity of the wind and the height of the wave in the
the location of a tropical cyclone, they are open sea. It is caused primarily by the strong winds in a tropical storm. In general, storm surge occurs
referring to the location of the eye. where winds are blowing onshore. It exhibits an abnormal rise of sea level resulting from strong winds
pushing water towards the shore (NOAA, 2013). This can cause severe destruction and damage in
INSIDE A TROPICAL CYCLONE its surrounding areas.
in low latitudes, where east winds are generally prevalent. Typhoons gradually weaken as they move
HOW DO OCEAN WATERS AFFECT THE FORMATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONES? north, eventually resulting in the water vapour falling short. This is because the temperature of the
sea surface decreases as the typhoon moves north.
Warm water that mixes with cold air results in the formation of a low-pressure system that
serves as the basis for typhoon formation. Tropical cyclone needs water vapor in order to form. But
not all parts of the ocean can provide water vapor, only the parts wherein evaporation is greatest. TRACKING TROPICAL CYCLONE
Those locations are in the tropical region adjacent to either side of the equator. The geographic Even when a storm is still outside the PAR, PAGASA is already monitoring it. And even when
location of the Philippines is the main reason why the country is prone to typhoon. it has already left the PAR, there is still a chance that it will return. Names are not given to LPAs.
PAGASA used its prepared list of names.
As you learn more and more about typhoons, you may start to feel appreciation to the
TYPHOON…TYPHOON: TO WHERE DO YOU GO? extraordinary hardworks of meteorologists in our country in giving us accurate predictions on changes
Typhoons are pushed by high altitude winds and move north because of the effect of the in weather.
earth’s rotation (Coriolis effect). Typhoons in the northern hemisphere rotate counterclockwise and
clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, typhoons move west while gradually veering north
perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of
wind speed – is the measure motion of the air with respect to the rotation.
VOCABULARY WORDS surface of the earth covering a unit distance over a unit time. wind shear – is a difference in wind speed and direction with
barometer – an instrument for measuring air pressure altitude in the atmosphere; usually described as either vertical
typhoon – the word “typhoon” comes from the word “tai fung” anemometer – an instrument for measuring wind speed or horizontal wind shear
meaning “Big Wind”. It is a weather disturbance with violent Public Storm Warning Signals – are raised to warn the public of tropical oceans – a large body of water that is characteristic to or
winds accompanied by heavy rains. incoming weather disturbances. Once a storm signal is raised, located in the region adjacent to either side of the equator.
hurricane – the equivalent term of typhoon in the northeastern conditions are not yet necessarily felt in the given area. convection – circulatory motion in a fluid due to warmer portions
part of the Pacific Ocean and the northern part of the Atlantic meteorological conditions – the prevailing environmental rising and cooler denser portions sinking
Ocean. conditions that influence the prediction of weather. condensation – the process by which a gas or a vapor becomes
rain – condensed water vapor grows in size until it becomes too storm surge – is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, liquid
heavy for the air to sustain. It falls to the ground as rain. over and above the predicted astronomical tide. It’s the change water vapor – the gaseous form of water
in the water level that is due to the presence of the storm latent heat – is the amount of energy absorbed or released by the
wind – is the horizontal movement of the air as a result of the
vegetation – refers to all the plant life in a particular region or substance during a change in its physical state that occurs
differences in temperature and pressure in different places of
period without changing its temperature.
the earth.
tropical cyclone – is a storm system characterized by counter- typhoon damage – refers to the significant disruptions to normal ITCZ – Intertropical Convergence Zone; source of tropical cyclone
conditions of vegetation and structures due to strong wind and formation located around the Equator. It is in this area that trade
clockwise rotating air mass around a central part called core or
heavy rainfall brought by a typhoon winds from the Northern Hemisphere converge.
eye that has a low pressure.
precautionary measures – actions or measures taken typhoon movements – may refer to the change in location which
tropical depression – tropical cyclone with maximum winds of 61
beforehand to prevent harm from something unwanted to take is generally subject to the control of large-scale air flow and
kph
place other factors that influence it.
tropical storm – tropical cyclone with winds of 62 to 88 kph
typhoon preparedness – a safety measure during a typhoon that landmass – a part of the continental crust above sea level having
severe tropical storm – weather condition with winds of 89 to 117 a distinct identity, as a continent or other large body of land
kph involves advanced planning; refers to a very concrete set of
actions that are taken as precautionary measures in the face of topography – is a detailed map of the surface features of land. It
typhoon – violent weather condition with circulating winds of 118 includes the mountains, hills, creeks, and other bumps and
potential typhoon disaster
to 220 kph supertyphoon – tropical cyclone with greater than lumps on a particular region of earth
220 kph wind speed PAGASA – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and
eye – refers to the core or the central part of the tropical cyclone. Astronomical Services Administration landfall – the intersection of the surface center (eye) of a tropical
PAR – Philippine Area of Responsibility cyclone with a coastline.
eye – the central part of a developing tropical cyclone
PAGASA monitors all tropical cyclones that enter the Philippine tracking data – a subjectively-smoothed representation of
eyewall – the clouds that surrounds the tranquil eye of the tropical
Area of Responsibility and is mandated to make the necessary a tropical cyclone's location and intensity over its lifetime. The
cyclone
warnings best track contains the cyclone's latitude, longitude, maximum
rainband - a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an
humidity – refers to the amount of water vapor (moisture) in a sustained surface winds, and minimum sea-level pressure at 6-
area of rainfall which is significantly elongated.
given volume of air hourly intervals.
air pressure – refers to the weight of air over a certain area
Coriolis effect – an effect whereby a mass moving in a rotating
system experiences a force (the Coriolis force ) acting