​Typhoons in a Warming World

What is a Typhoon?

Solar thermal energy is the primary driver of Earth's weather patterns. The spherical shape of the Earth creates an imbalance in thermal energy distribution between low and high latitudes.

Near the equator, where the sun's altitude angle is high and vast amounts of energy are absorbed, convective clouds form over the oceans. Occasionally, these convective clouds coalesce and develop into massive low-pressure systems known as typhoons.Typhoons maintain their intensity by drawing moisture from the ocean and move toward higher latitudes. Through this process, typhoons help resolve the energy imbalance between the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth.