The ‘eye’ of the cyclone has:
abnormally high temperature and lowest pressure
Understanding the 'Eye' of a Cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. The structure of a mature tropical cyclone includes several distinct parts, and the 'eye' is the most notable feature at its very center.
What is the Cyclone 'Eye'?
The 'eye' is the calm region found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. It is typically a circular area ranging from about 20 to 65 kilometers (10 to 40 miles) in diameter. Contrary to the surrounding storm, the eye is characterized by light winds, clear skies, and often, sunshine.
Characteristics of the Cyclone Eye
The key characteristics of the cyclone eye that differentiate it from the rest of the storm are:
- Calm Winds: Winds in the eye are significantly lighter than in the surrounding eyewall.
- Clear or Partially Cloudy Skies: While the eyewall is a dense ring of towering thunderstorms, the eye itself is often free of clouds, allowing views of the sky or stars at night.
- Lowest Atmospheric Pressure: The eye contains the lowest atmospheric pressure of the entire storm system. The extremely low pressure at the surface is a defining feature of the cyclone's intensity.
- Abnormally High Temperature: The temperature within the eye, particularly aloft, is typically warmer than the surrounding eyewall. This warming is due to adiabatic warming of air that descends into the eye.
Let's evaluate the given options based on these characteristics:
- Option 1: abnormally high temperature and lowest pressure. This aligns with the known characteristics of the cyclone eye.
- Option 2: abnormally low temperature and pressure. While pressure is low, temperature in the eye is typically high, not low.
- Option 3: clear sky and lowest temperature. Clear sky is correct, but temperature is high, not lowest.
- Option 4: dense cloud cover and low pressure. The eye has clear sky, not dense cloud cover. Low pressure is correct, but dense cloud cover is incorrect.
Therefore, the option that accurately describes the conditions in the eye of a cyclone is abnormally high temperature and lowest pressure.
Comparison Table: Eye vs. Eyewall
| Feature | Cyclone Eye | Eyewall (Surrounding Eye) |
|---|---|---|
| Winds | Calm/Light | Strongest (Maximum wind speed) |
| Sky Conditions | Clear or partially cloudy | Dense cloud cover, heavy rain |
| Atmospheric Pressure | Lowest in the storm | Increases outwards from the eye |
| Temperature | Warmer (especially aloft) | Cooler than the eye |
| Precipitation | Little to none | Heaviest rain |
Revision Table: Key Cyclone Eye Facts
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Center of the cyclone |
| Size | 20-65 km diameter typically |
| Pressure | Lowest surface pressure |
| Temperature | Higher than surrounding areas (especially aloft) |
| Weather | Calm winds, clear sky |
Additional Information: How the Eye Forms
The formation of the clear, calm eye is a result of the dynamics of the storm. As air converges towards the low-pressure center at the surface, it spirals inwards and rises rapidly in the eyewall. This rapid rising motion condenses water vapor, forming the intense thunderstorms of the eyewall.
Some of this air, however, does not reach the very center. Instead, air in the upper levels of the eyewall spirals outwards and then descends into the eye. This descending air warms adiabatically (due to compression as it descends) and dries out. This process suppresses cloud formation, leading to the clear skies and warmer temperatures observed in the eye.
The radius of maximum wind speed occurs just outside the eye, in the eyewall.
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