A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low
pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds
and flooding rain. The term "tropical" refers to both the geographic
origin of these systems, which form almost exclusively in tropical
regions of the globe, and their formation in Maritime Tropical air
masses. The term "cyclone" refers to such storms' cyclonic nature, with
counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise
rotation in the Southern Hemisphere. While tropical cyclones can
produce extremely powerful winds and torrential rain, they are also
able to produce high waves and damaging storm surge as well as spawning
tornadoes. They develop over large bodies of warm water, and lose their
strength if they move over land. This is the reason coastal regions can
receive significant damage from a tropical cyclone, while inland
regions are relatively safe from receiving strong winds. Heavy rains,
however, can produce significant flooding inland, and storm surges can
produce extensive coastal flooding up to 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the
coastline. Although their effects on human populations can be
devastating, tropical cyclones can also relieve drought conditions.
They also carry heat and energy away from the tropics and transport it
toward temperate latitudes, which makes them an important part of the
global atmospheric circulation mechanism. As a result, tropical
cyclones help to maintain equilibrium in the Earth's troposphere, and
to maintain a relatively stable and warm temperature worldwide. It is
not possible to artificially induce the dissipation of these systems
with current technology.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1794:
The Glorious First of June, the first and largest fleet action of the
naval conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the First
French Republic during the French Revolutionary Wars, was fought.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glorious_First_of_June>
1813:
War of 1812: Mortally wounded during a battle against the Royal Navy
frigate HMS Shannon, American naval commander James Lawrence of the USS
Chesapeake ordered his crew to "Don't give up the ship!", today a
popular battle cry.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_USS_Chesapeake>
1831:
British naval officer and explorer James Clark Ross successfully led
the first expedition to reach the North Magnetic Pole.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Clark_Ross>
1943:
Eight German Junkers Ju 88s shot down British Overseas Airways
Corporation Flight 777 over the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Spain
and France, killing actor Leslie Howard and several other notable
passengers.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BOAC_Flight_777>
2001:
Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal killed King Birendra and several members
of the Shah royal family in a shooting spree at the Narayanhity Royal
Palace in Kathmandu.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalese_royal_massacre>
2005:
In their first national referendum in over two hundred years, Dutch
voters rejected the ratification of the proposed Constitution of the
European Union.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_European_Constitution_referendum%2C_2005>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
gallivant (v):
1. To roam about for pleasure without any definite plan.
2. (obsolete) To flirt, to romance
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gallivant>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
There are times when the utmost daring is the height of wisdom.
--Carl von Clausewitz
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Carl_von_Clausewitz>