Tropical cyclones are classified by form and...

🔍 Key Concepts

• Tropical disturbance vs. tropical depression vs. tropical storm/hurricane in terms of organization and wind speed • The meaning of closed isobars on a weather map and what they indicate about the pressure field • How increasing intensity of a tropical system affects its pressure pattern and wind circulation

💭 Think About

• Which type of tropical system is the least organized and may not have a well-defined center of low pressure? • On a surface weather chart, would a stronger, more organized system be more or less likely to show circular, closed isobars around its center? • Look at the choices and rank them from weakest/least organized system to strongest/most organized. Which one on that list would you expect to lack closed isobars?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the approximate wind speed ranges and level of organization for each term in the choices • Confirm which systems have a well-defined center of low pressure with a clear cyclonic circulation • Check which system is often described as an area of disturbed weather that may or may not develop closed isobars on a surface chart

Tropical cyclones are classified by form and intensity. Which system does not have closed isobars?

Tropical depression

Hurricane

Tropical disturbance

Cyclone