A tropical cyclone with winds of 120 km/hr or greater is known as a

A tropical cyclone with winds of 120 km/hr or greater is known as a

• A. Tropical Storm
• B. Cyclone
• C. Tornado
• D. Hurricane

Answer: (D)

Classification of tropical cyclones is based on sustained wind speed. When winds reach 119 km/h or higher, the system is specifically called a hurricane in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific (typhoon in the Western Pacific, cyclone in other regions). The tiers go from tropical depression (<63 km/h) to tropical storm (63–118 km/h) to hurricane (≥119 km/h). A wind of 120 km/h meets the hurricane threshold, so that name is the best fit. A tropical storm hasn’t reached that wind speed yet, a tornado is a different, much smaller phenomenon, and a cyclone is a general term for tropical low-pressure systems not specifically denoting wind speed.

Classification of tropical cyclones is based on sustained wind speed. When winds reach 119 km/h or higher, the system is specifically called a hurricane in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific (typhoon in the Western Pacific, cyclone in other regions). The tiers go from tropical depression (<63 km/h) to tropical storm (63–118 km/h) to hurricane (≥119 km/h). A wind of 120 km/h meets the hurricane threshold, so that name is the best fit. A tropical storm hasn’t reached that wind speed yet, a tornado is a different, much smaller phenomenon, and a cyclone is a general term for tropical low-pressure systems not specifically denoting wind speed.