Final answer:
The ranking of these weather phenomena in order of increasing strength is: tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct ranking of these weather phenomena in order of increasing strength is: C. tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane.
A tropical disturbance is a disorganized mass of thunderstorms with little to no rotation, producing minimal wind speed.
A tropical depression is characterized by wind speeds between 25 and 38 miles per hour.
A tropical storm is upgraded from a tropical depression when it reaches sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour.
A hurricane is the strongest of the four, with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or greater.