Tropical Depression

Our lack of knowledge about the various attributes of weather becomes obvious from the fact that not many of us actually know that a cyclone and a hurricane are one and the same. Such violent storms are referred to as cyclones when they are formed in the Indian Ocean or southwestern Pacific Ocean, and hurricanes when they are formed in Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean. According to the meteorological studies, there are three stages of a cyclone - tropical depression, tropical storm and tropical cyclone. These three stages are defined on the basis of the intensity of this natural disaster, with tropical depression being the least intense and tropical cyclone being the most devastating.

Tropical Depression: An Overview

In meteorology, tropical depression is considered to be the first stage of the process of cyclone formation. In simple words, you can also say that a tropical depression is an occurrence which precedes a devastating cyclone. We often hear about weather reports suggesting that a tropical depression has formed over a certain area, which can eventually develop into a devastating storm. It is referred to as depression owing to the fact that it is a low pressure area, typically characterized by the presence of winds which blow at a speed of less than 39 mph. While these depressions facilitates cyclone formation, how they themselves form is also an equally interesting attribute of nature.

Tropical Depression Formation

As in case of tropical storms, even tropical depressions are formed in the tropics, i.e. between 5°N and 20°N and 5°S and 20°S of the Equator. Such depressions are formed when the warm waters of the ocean are disturbed by the action of wind, which eventually result in low pressure area - ideal for storm formation. The Coriolis effect also plays a major role here with clockwise deflection of wind in northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise deflection in the southern hemisphere. The intensity of this formation depends on the prevailing weather conditions. If warm air is pumped in this area continuously, this formation can gain momentum and develop into tropical depression - marked by heavy showers and thunderstorms. If suitable conditions prevail, the tropical depression will eventually develop into a tropical storm characterized by fast blowing winds which can be quite devastating in themselves.

More Facts on Tropical Depression

While the occurrence of tropical storms has become a dreaded phenomenon owing to their increasing frequency, tropical depressions are no less fearsome. Even though the speed of < 39 mph may make the wind blowing in such formation look comparatively less dangerous, it would be wrong to assume that they cause less harm. More importantly, lack of any obstruction over the ocean helps wind pick speed with ease, and this acceleration adds to the favorable conditions for the formation of hurricane storm. Even though this depression is a stage of cyclone, once can see a vast difference between the two concepts. Unlike a cyclone, tropical depression doesn't have the center referred to as the eye of a cyclone. Similarly, the distinct spiral shape, which is the identity of powerful storms which occur in the tropical areas, is also missing when it comes to these depressions.

That covered all the information you needed to know about tropical depressions, with special emphasis on the other intricate details such as favorable conditions for the formation of a tropical depression, how its forms, where it forms, etc. Now that you are well versed with what a tropical depression is, you would be in a better position to understand what the newsreader is trying to say when he says "a tropical depression have developed over the Pacific Ocean".