Final answer:
Powerful rotating storms in the western Pacific are called typhoons, which are equivalent to hurricanes and cyclones in other parts of the world. They form between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and can cause significant damage upon landfall, like Typhoon Thelma in 1991. Oceanic conditions such as El Niño can influence weather patterns and contribute to the development of these storms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Powerful Rotating Storms in the Western Pacific Ocean
The powerful rotating storms in the western Pacific Ocean are known as typhoons. These are the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. Typhoons form above the oceans near the equator, specifically between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and can have a devastating impact on the physical and cultural landscape when they make landfall.
The Philippine Islands, which lie in the center of the Western Pacific's major typhoon belt, can experience up to 20 typhoons a year, with about half of them directly impacting the islands. Typhoons, like their counterparts, are regions of lower pressure and are characterized by their formidable wind speeds which can be observed through satellite images.
One such notable event was Typhoon Thelma (also known as Uring) in 1991, which resulted in almost 8,000 fatalities. In contrast to the Great Red Spot on Jupiter—a large, oval-shaped, high-pressure storm system—storms on Earth, including typhoons, are regions of lower pressure. An example of the power of these storms can be seen in Hurricane Irene's satellite image before it made landfall in New York City in 2011, showcasing the violent weather patterns that can emerge from Earth's climate system.
It is important to note the role of oceanic conditions in the development of these storms. For instance, El Niño, a warm ocean current off the west coast of South America, occurs every few years and can lead to changes in weather patterns and potentially extreme weather events globally. While typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones are all the same type of storm system, their names change depending on their location around the world.