Cyclones are centred on areas of low atmospheric pressure, usually over warm ocean waters near the equator. The warm moist air over the ocean rises from the surface in the upward direction, resulting in the formation of the low-pressure zone over the surface. Air from the surrounding region, with higher pressure, pushes into the low-pressure area.
Cyclones, also known as hurricanes or typhoons, are primarily caused by high ocean temperatures, broad-scale wind systems and clustered thunderstorms, which liberate the heat energy from the ocean surface and transfer it to the cyclone. Ocean temperatures must be higher than 80 degrees Fahrenheit to a depth of at least 150 feet.
