Which term describes a tropical cyclone found in the Western Pacific Ocean?

Which term describes a tropical cyclone found in the Western Pacific Ocean?

• A. Hurricane
• B. Cyclone
• C. Typhoon
• D. Monsoon

Answer: (C)

Regional naming of tropical cyclones explains why this is called a typhoon in the Western Pacific. A tropical cyclone is a rotating low-pressure storm with strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm ocean waters. Names vary by region: in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific, such storms are hurricanes; in the Western Pacific, they’re typhoons; and in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, they’re cyclones. Monsoon refers to a seasonal wind system bringing heavy rains, not a specific cyclone. So for a tropical cyclone in the Western Pacific, the correct term is typhoon. An example is Typhoon Haiyan, which shows how the regional name is used.

Regional naming of tropical cyclones explains why this is called a typhoon in the Western Pacific. A tropical cyclone is a rotating low-pressure storm with strong winds and heavy rain that forms over warm ocean waters. Names vary by region: in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific, such storms are hurricanes; in the Western Pacific, they’re typhoons; and in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, they’re cyclones. Monsoon refers to a seasonal wind system bringing heavy rains, not a specific cyclone. So for a tropical cyclone in the Western Pacific, the correct term is typhoon. An example is Typhoon Haiyan, which shows how the regional name is used.