Final answer:
The central idea is that hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, regardless of their names, cause serious damage due to wind and flooding. They form over warm tropical waters and have become more destructive over time, impacting environmental and human populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central idea of the text is that hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons all have the potential to cause significant damage to human populations and environments. This damage is due to a combination of high wind speeds and flooding. These weather phenomena, known by different names depending on their location, develop over warm ocean water and can be immensely destructive when they make landfall. For instance, they form mainly in the tropics because the water there is warm enough to fuel the rising of hot, humid air, which then causes storm conditions as it cools and condenses—leading to heavy rains and high-speed winds. The rotation of the Earth contributes to the distinct cyclonic pattern of these storms. Additionally, the deteriorating environmental conditions, such as the increasing acidity of oceans and changing weather patterns, suggest that hurricanes are becoming more frequent and severe, causing greater damage and altering populations both human and wildlife indiscriminately.