The Wilmington morning star., 1944-11-13
Typhoon

Tropical storms have been prevalent since
General Macarthur invaded the Philippines
| at times helpful to our forces at times the
enemy. Scientists describe them as "just ar
average typhoon for the region" But they
| are first cousins to the hurricanes that 1ast
our Atlantic shores and cause such great dam.
age among Caribbean islands and at times
our own coastal areas.
Tropical cyclone says the National
Geographic Society, is the correct general
name for the big, rotating storms arising in
warm seas around the world. They are known,
however, by various names, according to
where they happen to blow. In the western
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Cult of
Mexico. where an average OF four arise each
annual season, they are hurricanes. The same
name applies in the south Pacific, although
Australians sometimes call them willy-willlies.
In the Bay of Bengal and adjoining Indian
seas. where they average twice the fire.
quency found in the western Atlantic, they
are simply cyclones.
In the western Pacific and China Seas,
where about "a of some violence occur dur
ing each June-to-October season. the tropical
cyclone is called typhoon Within this area
are the Philippines, where the typhoon has a
local name--the baguio.
By any name, the tropical cyclone rises in
the doldrums Of the open ocean near the
Equator and gradually becomes vast dough-
nut of whirling air with a hole of compare
tive calm at its center. Cool air from above
mixing with the warm, moist air rising from
the sea over a wide area picks up whirling
motion from the earths eastward rotation,
the motion building up to tremendous speed.
Such storms north Of the Equator always
have a counterclockwise spin, and south Of
the Equator revolve clockwise. Near their area
mile diameter and a calm, rainless center only
five miles wide. When fully developed, big
typhoon or hurricane may be 900 miles in di-
ameter with 30-mile center of calm. It's ef-
fects on the atmosphere may be noticed over
an 1,800-mile range.
To one who experiences the tropical cy-
clones fury, the circular pattern OF the storm
is not evident. If he is directly in its line, he
first shelters himself from wind and rain COM
ing from one direction, then rejoices briefly
to see calm and even sunshine. But soon he
must protect himself from the diving wind
and rain of the other side OF the doughnut,
blowing in the opposite direction.
Leytes Halloween typhoon blew 75-mile
winds. In the worst storms wind velocity some
times doubles this figure. In addition to their
circular whirl the tropical cyclones move in
their entirety, slowly at first, and usually no
more than 20 miles an hour. Some storms
however, have attained a speed Of 40 miles
or more per hour. The usual direction for those
north of the Equator is westward, then north
westward. South of the Equator they move
Atlantic hurricanes occur north of the Equa-
tor.
Tropical cyclones are usually at their strong
est between latitudes 10 degrees and 20 de-
grees north and south. Within these belts
damage to shipping, crops, and villages is
common.
The record books are full, however, of ac-
counts of such storms as the Japanese ty-
phoon of 1894 and the New England hurricane
of 1893. Both originated in equatorial seas
Both moved westward then northwestward,
tEen northward, passing well north Of the
usual tropical cyclone range. Both did DAM
age amounting to hundreds of millions OF dol
lars. Both bear the same date within their
respective calendar years-September 81, the
cyclone season.