Where the strongest winds on earth blow. Geography of weather records The highest wind speed on earth is observed

Hurricane - tropical view cyclone. It is distinguished by its relatively small size, but rather destructive power. The name "hurricane" itself comes from the English "hurricane", which is used to name strong cyclones.

As a rule, they originate near North or South America. His neighbors and close relatives come from the region of Asia, and Far East, and usually weaker ones. They are called "typhoons".

It is worth noting that not every cyclone can be called a hurricane. Some pass with atmospheric phenomena characteristic of the area and fade further. The cyclone itself is atmospheric vortex of impressive size, which is twisted into southern hemisphere clockwise, and counterclockwise in north. They are especially clearly visible from space. But atmospheric phenomenon, when viewed from above, has a spiral shape with a hole in the middle, this is the so-called "eye of the storm". There is a zone in the center of the cyclone reduced pressure. Cyclones owe their origin to the rotation of the planet, while simultaneously moving it in orbit, so this phenomenon is considered common.

The size of cyclones can be several thousand kilometers, while the eye varies from 2-3 kilometers to several tens. As a rule, the size of hurricanes is much smaller, but the speed of air movement in the spiral is much faster and reaches several hundred kilometers per hour. Maximum 300 kilometers per hour.

In the area, which is called the "eye of the storm" (or eye of the typhoon), usually calm weather with higher temperatures. Warm air descends and falls into the first turns of the spiral, where the colder mass is. As a result, a territory is formed with high differences in pressure. It, in turn, contributes to the unwinding air masses hurricane as a whole. Therefore, the center of the spiral, near the "eye", has increased power, highest speed and, usually, thunderclouds causing torrential downpours.

Tropical hurricanes originate over the warm waters of the oceans somewhere around the equator. As a result of the rotation of the planet, they move west and shift north. This is what causes a large number of hurricanes off the eastern coast North America as well as Mexico. These areas are larger than others in recent times suffer from the effects of severe hurricanes.

Hurricane strength is measured on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which has five categories. Today, only a few hurricanes of the fifth, highest category, are known.

Now every year there are about a dozen cyclones and several dozen cyclones on the entire planet. And here are the most powerful of them.

Most strong hurricane in the world

The great hurricane of 1780, or another name - San Calixto. it tropical cyclone of enormous power, which raged in the autumn of 1780 near the Caribbean archipelago. It became the deadliest of all known hurricanes. According to the documents of that time, at least 22,000 dead are known. And since in the eighteenth century the statistics were very conditional, compared to today, we can safely say that the number of victims was much higher.

The great hurricane touched the islands of the Caribbean, from Newfoundland to Barbados, passed through Haiti and destroyed up to 95 percent of all buildings. And that's not counting the thousands of lives lost. The tidal wave that the hurricane caused, like a powerful tsunami, passed through some of the islands, sometimes reaching 7-8 meters in height. She destroyed everything in her path. The hurricane was accompanied by strong unrest at sea, so many ships were sunk both in port bays and at some distance from the coast. Including part of the French and English fleets that took part in civil war USA. Approximately a hundred vessels in the water area ran aground.

Eyewitnesses said that the rain, under the influence of a strong wind, tore the bark from the trunks of trees, and this was before knocking them down. According to scientists, the wind speed then was at least 350 kilometers per hour.

Mitch

The hurricane, which was named Mitch, passed through the Atlantic basin with incredible power and strength. It originated in October 1998 in the south caribbean. Meteorologists assigned him the fifth category, the highest. This is because of the wind speed, the gusts of which reached 320 kilometers per hour. The hurricane affected the territories of Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.

Hurricane Mitch. Effects

He completely devastated them and claimed the lives of 20 thousand people. Most of the people died from mudflows, strong winds and tidal waves that towered up to 6 meters in height. More than a million people were left homeless, and hundreds needed drinking water and medical preparations. As a result, this led to an increase in infectious diseases.

Katrina

The name Katrina is known to absolutely every American. Because it is the strongest and most destructive hurricane ever to hit the coast of America. Hurricane Katrina originated in August 2005 in the area Bahamas. He quickly gained strength and began to develop in the direction east coast USA. As soon as the bad weather reached the American coast, the hurricane received the fifth category in terms of strength.

But for acceptance necessary measures it was already too late. The authorities could not cope with the consequences of the disaster. So President George W. Bush's approval rating dropped to 38 percent at the time. Only according to official data, more than one and a half thousand people became victims of the hurricane. About half a million more were left homeless. Moreover, approximately 80 percent of New Orleans is flooded.

Typhoon in Pakistan

On the night of November 13, 1970, a powerful typhoon hit the coastal regions of East Pakistan. Hurricane wind formed a huge wave up to 8 meters high. It swept through a number of islands and coastal areas. This typhoon has become almost the most major disaster throughout the history of mankind. By different estimates, the death toll ranged from 500 thousand to a million people.

Most strong wind in the world was registered by a commission of experts on April 10, 1996. A gust of wind hit its record high on Barrow Island, Australia. At this time Cyclone Olivia passed here.

The wind speed on the island reached 408 kilometers per hour. For comparison average speed winds in the world reaches 15 kilometers per hour.

Prior to this, the fastest wind in the world was considered a stream that was caught in New Hampshire on Mount Washington. This place is still considered one of the most hostile on the planet today. Before a new record was set in 1996, the American wind in New Hampshire was considered the most powerful stream for about 70 years.

The wind speed at the top of Mount Washington reached 372 kilometers per hour.

Despite these anomalies of the planet, a general weakening of winds around the world is recorded today. The researchers analyzed the performance of 800 weather stations over the past 3 decades. It turned out that today the wind speed indicators have decreased by 15%. That is, if earlier air flows went at a speed of 17 km/h, today it is already 14 km/h.

What is the reason? Scientists believe that one of the main reasons for such indicators is the restoration of forests due to acute environmental situation. But no one discounts global warming.

What threatens? But the consequences of such changes can be negative for a person. For example, researchers have suggested that slowing wind currents could lead to air pollution, as well as a sharp reduction in the spread of seeds on the ground. Not to mention that wind farms will now generate significantly less energy. The strangest clouds have also appeared in the world.

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As a result of the pressure difference between two different air areas, wind is generated. The speed and direction of its movement can vary depending on the pressure indicators in time and space. In most areas of the planet, certain wind directions dominate. So, at the poles prevail east winds, in temperate latitudes- Western. Along with such regions, there are also calm zones and anomalous regions where the wind blows constantly.

Strong winds can also occur due to local changes such as the opposition of a cyclone and an anticyclone. According to the effect of wind on land objects and waves at sea, the force of the wind is estimated in points on the Beaufort scale. Depending on how fast the wind blows, each wind force has its own verbal definition.

Wind speed: 1-5km/h

0 to 1 point

Calm is windless or almost windless weather in which maximum speed wind is no more than 0.5 m/s. When a gentle wind blows, light ripples appear on the sea. On land, with such a wind, the smoke deviates from the vertical direction.
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Light, weak, moderate, fresh

Wind speed: 12-38km/h

2 to 5 points

Wind from 2 points is classified as light. It can sway the leaves of trees, its breath is felt on the skin. With 3 points, light wind, branches, flags begin to sway, short but pronounced waves appear on the sea. Moderate wind, which is estimated at 4 points, raises dust, blurs the outlines of smoke and creates white lambs on the water. A fresh wind of 5 points can shake thin trunks, cause whistling in the ears and form waves up to 2 meters high.

Strong, strong and very strong

Wind speed: 39 to 61 km/h

6 to 8 points

A strong wind of 6 points usually does not allow you to open an umbrella. It can easily bend thin trees and swing thick branches. The height of the waves reaches 3 meters. It is difficult to go against a strong wind, which is estimated at 7 points. It will be even more difficult to do this if the wind is very strong outside the window. It is also very difficult to speak in such a wind.

Storm

Wind speed: 75 to 88 km/h

9 to 11 points

The storm can be ordinary, strong and cruel. If the ordinary one just tears the tiles off the roofs and oppresses big trees, then his older "brothers" can destroy buildings, uproot trees and raise a wave 11 meters high.

Hurricane

Wind speed: over 117 km/h

A hurricane blows away literally everything in its path. Wind gusts can reach 50-60 m/sec. The wind can easily lift heavy objects into the air and carry them over considerable distances, sink ships and destroy monumental buildings.

Records

The strongest wind gust in history was recorded in 1934 on Mount Washington in New Hampshire, USA. For several minutes the wind was blowing at a speed of 123 m/s. The windiest place on the planet is Commonwealth Bay in Antarctica. There the wind blows constantly, and its speed reaches 240 km/h.