Math in the NewsIssue 83

Super Typhoon Haiyan

In this issue we look at the typhoon ravaging the Philippine Islands.

To get a better understanding of Typhoon Haiyan, see this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0v6Gol83F0

What is a Typhoon?

If a typhoon looks a lot like a hurricane, that’s because they’re both similar weather phenomena. The following

Venn Diagram will show similarities and differences.

Source: NOAA

Both hurricanes and Typhoons are examples of Tropical Cyclones.

They are similar in structure and have similar physical properties.

Hurricanes occur mostly in the Atlantic and tend to hit the US.

Typhoons occur in the western part of the Pacific and can occur any time of the year.

The Saffir-Simpson Scale

• The Saffir-Simpson scale is used to categorize hurricanes based in part on their wind speed.

• (Source www.nooa.gov.)

Typhoon Haiyan is considered a Category 5 and you can see how it compares to these hurricanes from the

past decade.

Year Name CategoryWind Speed (mph)

2002Lili 1 922003Claudette 1 922003Isabel 2 1042004Alex 1 812004Charley 4 1502004Gaston 1 752004Frances 2 1042004Ivan 3 1212004Jeanne 3 1212005Cindy 1 752005Dennis 3 1212005Katrina 3 1272005Ophelia 1 752005Rita 3 1152005Wilma 3 121

Your Turn

• Tropical cyclones also include other weather phenomena. Create a Venn Diagram that includes the relationship among these terms.

– Tropical Depression

– Tropical Storm

– Hurricane

– Typhoon

• Describe the differences among these categories.

• Use Web resources like www.noaa.gov.