Question

Why do hurricanes form over warm water.

Answer 1

Hint: Hurricanes are the most destructive storms on the planet. Depending on where they occur, these storms are referred to as typhoons or cyclones. Tropical cyclone is the scientific name for all of these storms. Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that develop over the Atlantic Ocean or the eastern Pacific Ocean. Tropical cyclones, whatever they're called, always originate in the same way.

Complete answer:
Tropical cyclones are enormous engines that run on warm, wet air. That's why they only develop around the equator, in warm ocean waters. The warm, wet air at the surface of the ocean rises upward. There is less air at the surface because this air is moving up and away from it. Another way to express the same idea is that warm air rises, creating a low-pressure zone below. Air from higher-pressure regions in the vicinity rushes into the low-pressure zone. The "new" air then becomes warm and wet, rising with it. The surrounding air swirls in to take the place of the rising heated air. The water in the air condenses as the warm, moist air rises and cools, forming clouds. The heat from the ocean and water evaporating from the surface feeds the entire system of clouds and wind, which spins and expands. Storms that develop north of the equator rotate in the opposite direction. South of the equator, storms rotate clockwise. The rotation of the Earth on its axis accounts for this discrepancy. An eye forms in the centre of the storm system as it rotates faster and faster. It has a very low air pressure and is quite peaceful and clear in the eye. Air from above, at a higher pressure, rushes down into the eye. A "tropical storm" is defined as a spinning storm with winds above 39 mph. The storm becomes a "tropical cyclone," or hurricane, when wind speeds hit 74 mph. When tropical cyclones strike land, they generally weaken because they are no longer "nourished" by the energy of the warm ocean waters. However, they frequently advance well inland, dropping many inches of rain and causing extensive wind damage before finally dying out.

Note:
The two GOES satellites monitor storms from a distance of 22,300 miles above the Earth's surface. These satellites, which were constructed by NASA and are maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), enable weather forecasters to anticipate and warn people where and when severe storms are likely to strike.