A hypercane is a hypothetical class of extreme tropical cyclone that could form if sea surface temperatures reached approximately 50 °C (122 °F), which is 15 °C (27 °F) warmer than the warmest ocean temperature ever recorded.[1] Such an increase could be caused by a large asteroid or comet impact, a large supervolcanic eruption, anthropogenic climate change, or a large submarine flood basalt.[2] There is some speculation that a series of hypercanes resulting from the impact of a large asteroid or comet contributed to the demise of the non-avian dinosaurs.[3] The hypothesis was created by Kerry Emanuel of MIT, who also coined the term.[4][5][3] Additionally, it is also speculated that many planets that could orbit red dwarf stars, if they have liquid water, would permanently experience hypercanes on their sunlit faces due to the effects of tidal locking. This could potentially challenge any life forms that were to live there.[citation needed]
In order to form a hypercane, according to Emanuel's hypothetical model, the ocean temperature would have to be at least 49 °C (120 °F). A critical difference between a hypercane and present-day hurricanes is that a hypercane would extend into the upper stratosphere, whereas present-day hurricanes extend into only the lower stratosphere.[6]
Hypercanes would have wind speeds of over 800 kilometres per hour (500 mph), potentially gusting to 970 km/h (600 mph),[7] and would also have a central pressure of less than 700 hectopascals (20.67 inHg), giving them an enormous lifespan of at least several weeks.[5] This extreme low pressure could also support massive storm systems roughly the size of North America.[5][8] For comparison, the largest and most intense storm on record was 1979's Typhoon Tip, with a 1-minute sustained wind speed of 305 km/h (190 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 870 hPa (25.69 inHg). Such a storm would be nearly eight times more powerful than Hurricane Patricia, the storm with the highest sustained wind speed recorded, which had 1-minute sustained winds of 345 km/h (215 mph).[9] However, hypercanes may be as small as 25 km (15 mi) in size, and they would lose strength quickly after venturing into colder waters.[7]
The waters after a hypercane could remain hot enough for weeks, allowing more hypercanes to form. A hypercane's clouds would reach 30 to 40 km (20 to 25 mi) into the stratosphere. Such an intense storm would also damage the Earth's ozone layer, potentially having devastating consequences for life on Earth.[5][failed verification] Water molecules in the stratosphere would react with ozone to accelerate decay into O2 and reduce absorption of ultraviolet light.[10]
Mechanism
A hurricane functions as a Carnot heat engine powered by the temperature difference between the sea and the uppermost layer of the troposphere. As air is drawn in towards the eye it acquires latent heat from evaporating sea-water, which is then released as sensible heat during the rise inside the eyewall and radiated away at the top of the storm system. The energy input is balanced by energy dissipation in a turbulent boundary layer close to the surface, which leads to an energy balance equilibrium.[citation needed]
However, in Emanuel's model, if the temperature difference between the sea and the top of the troposphere is too large, there is no solution to the equilibrium equation. As more air is drawn in, the released heat reduces the central pressure further, drawing in more heat in a runaway positive feedback. The actual limit to hypercane intensity depends on other energy dissipation factors that are uncertain: whether inflow ceases to be isothermal, whether shock waves would form in the outflow around the eye, or whether turbulent breakdown of the vortex happens.[3][11]
^Leahy, Stephen (September 16, 2005). . Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
^ abcEmanuel, Kerry; Speer, Kevin; Rotunno, Richard; Srivastava, Ramesh; Molina, Mario (July 20, 1995). "Hypercanes: A Possible Link to Global Extinction Scenarios". Journal of Geophysical Research. 100 (D7): 13755–13765. Bibcode:1995JGR...10013755E. doi:10.1029/95JD01368. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
^Hecht, Jeff (February 4, 1995). "Did storms land the dinosaurs in hot water?". New Scientist. No. 1963. p. 16. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
^ abcdEmanuel, Kerry (September 16, 1996). "Limits on Hurricane Intensity". Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, MIT. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
^Emanuel, Kerry (2008). "Hypercane". Mega Disasters (Interview). History Channel.
^ abMichael Cabbage (September 10, 1997). . South Florida Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
^Jhaneel Lockhart (2017). "Could a 500 Mph "Hypercane" End Life As We Know It?". Roaring Earth. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^Henson, Robert (2008). "Hypercane". Mega Disasters (Interview). History Channel.
^"ozone decomposition". www.lenntech.com. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^Emanuel, Kerry A. (1988). "The Maximum Intensity of Hurricanes". Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. 45 (7): 1143–1155. Bibcode:1988JAtS...45.1143E. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1988)045<1143:TMIOH>2.0.CO;2.
External links
Hypercanes: The Next Big Disaster Movie? – YouTube
December 31, 2022
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A hypercane is a hypothetical class of extreme tropical cyclone that could form if sea surface temperatures reached approximately 50 C 122 F which is 15 C 27 F warmer than the warmest ocean temperature ever recorded 1 Such an increase could be caused by a large asteroid or comet impact a large supervolcanic eruption anthropogenic climate change or a large submarine flood basalt 2 There is some speculation that a series of hypercanes resulting from the impact of a large asteroid or comet contributed to the demise of the non avian dinosaurs 3 The hypothesis was created by Kerry Emanuel of MIT who also coined the term 4 5 3 Additionally it is also speculated that many planets that could orbit red dwarf stars if they have liquid water would permanently experience hypercanes on their sunlit faces due to the effects of tidal locking This could potentially challenge any life forms that were to live there citation needed Contents 1 Description 2 Mechanism 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription Edit The relative sizes of Typhoon Tip Cyclone Tracy and the Contiguous United States The average hypercane would exceed Cyclone Tracy in size though some could exceed Typhoon Tip in size In order to form a hypercane according to Emanuel s hypothetical model the ocean temperature would have to be at least 49 C 120 F A critical difference between a hypercane and present day hurricanes is that a hypercane would extend into the upper stratosphere whereas present day hurricanes extend into only the lower stratosphere 6 Hypercanes would have wind speeds of over 800 kilometres per hour 500 mph potentially gusting to 970 km h 600 mph 7 and would also have a central pressure of less than 700 hectopascals 20 67 inHg giving them an enormous lifespan of at least several weeks 5 This extreme low pressure could also support massive storm systems roughly the size of North America 5 8 For comparison the largest and most intense storm on record was 1979 s Typhoon Tip with a 1 minute sustained wind speed of 305 km h 190 mph and a minimum central pressure of 870 hPa 25 69 inHg Such a storm would be nearly eight times more powerful than Hurricane Patricia the storm with the highest sustained wind speed recorded which had 1 minute sustained winds of 345 km h 215 mph 9 However hypercanes may be as small as 25 km 15 mi in size and they would lose strength quickly after venturing into colder waters 7 The waters after a hypercane could remain hot enough for weeks allowing more hypercanes to form A hypercane s clouds would reach 30 to 40 km 20 to 25 mi into the stratosphere Such an intense storm would also damage the Earth s ozone layer potentially having devastating consequences for life on Earth 5 failed verification Water molecules in the stratosphere would react with ozone to accelerate decay into O2 and reduce absorption of ultraviolet light 10 Mechanism EditA hurricane functions as a Carnot heat engine powered by the temperature difference between the sea and the uppermost layer of the troposphere As air is drawn in towards the eye it acquires latent heat from evaporating sea water which is then released as sensible heat during the rise inside the eyewall and radiated away at the top of the storm system The energy input is balanced by energy dissipation in a turbulent boundary layer close to the surface which leads to an energy balance equilibrium citation needed However in Emanuel s model if the temperature difference between the sea and the top of the troposphere is too large there is no solution to the equilibrium equation As more air is drawn in the released heat reduces the central pressure further drawing in more heat in a runaway positive feedback The actual limit to hypercane intensity depends on other energy dissipation factors that are uncertain whether inflow ceases to be isothermal whether shock waves would form in the outflow around the eye or whether turbulent breakdown of the vortex happens 3 11 See also Edit Climate change portal Tropical cyclones portalGlobal catastrophic risk Saffir Simpson scale Tornado Extraterrestrial cyclone Great Red Spot Great Dark SpotReferences Edit Temperature of Ocean Water Windows to the Universe University Corporation for Atmospheric Research August 31 2001 Archived from the original on March 13 2012 Retrieved July 24 2008 Leahy Stephen September 16 2005 The Dawn of the Hypercane Inter Press Service Archived from the original on May 17 2008 Retrieved July 24 2008 a b c Emanuel Kerry Speer Kevin Rotunno Richard Srivastava Ramesh Molina Mario July 20 1995 Hypercanes A Possible Link to Global Extinction Scenarios Journal of Geophysical Research 100 D7 13755 13765 Bibcode 1995JGR 10013755E doi 10 1029 95JD01368 Retrieved July 24 2008 Hecht Jeff February 4 1995 Did storms land the dinosaurs in hot water New Scientist No 1963 p 16 Retrieved July 24 2008 a b c d Emanuel Kerry September 16 1996 Limits on Hurricane Intensity Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography MIT Retrieved July 24 2008 Emanuel Kerry 2008 Hypercane Mega Disasters Interview History Channel a b Michael Cabbage September 10 1997 HYPERCANE THEORY PACKS 600 MPH WINDS South Florida Sun Sentinel Archived from the original on May 13 2019 Retrieved May 13 2019 Jhaneel Lockhart 2017 Could a 500 Mph Hypercane End Life As We Know It Roaring Earth Retrieved March 13 2021 Henson Robert 2008 Hypercane Mega Disasters Interview History Channel ozone decomposition www lenntech com Retrieved February 5 2019 Emanuel Kerry A 1988 The Maximum Intensity of Hurricanes Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 45 7 1143 1155 Bibcode 1988JAtS 45 1143E doi 10 1175 1520 0469 1988 045 lt 1143 TMIOH gt 2 0 CO 2 External links EditHypercanes The Next Big Disaster Movie YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hypercane amp oldid 1101992691, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
