Final answer:
Hurricanes are caused by the release of energy during the condensation of moisture in rising warm air, driven by warm ocean waters and the Coriolis effect due to Earth's rotation, leading to the development of severe cyclonic weather systems with the potential for massive destruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary cause of hurricanes is the energy released by the condensation of moisture in rising air. This process originates over warm ocean waters, typically above 80 °F, where heated air containing water vapor rises rapidly. The condensation of this water vapor at higher, cooler altitudes releases heat, which causes the air to expand and continue rising. This positive feedback mechanism, alongside the Earth's rotation imparting the Coriolis force, leads to the creation of a cyclonic pattern with tropical depressions that can intensify into hurricanes once sustained wind speeds reach 74 miles per hour or more.
Hurricanes are most prevalent in the tropics due to the abundance of warm water which fuels their growth. Their destructive potential lies in the powerhouse of energy they harness from warm waters, leading to severe wind speeds, heavy rains, and the associated damage they can cause, which scales as the cube of the wind velocity. This is why when tropical depressions evolve into hurricanes, they become a major threat to life and property.