Final answer:
Tropical cyclones, which encompass hurricanes and typhoons, generally last a few weeks and form over warm ocean waters. Their shape and rotation are influenced by the Coriolis force, with a distinct directional spin in each hemisphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lifespan of a tropical cyclone, which includes hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical storms, is typically a few weeks or even less when it moves over continents and encounters land friction.
These powerful storm systems develop over water with temperatures exceeding 80 °F (27 °C), where the heat causes air to rise rapidly, initiating the cyclone's signature strong wind currents and storm conditions. Their rotation is dictated by the Coriolis force, causing a counterclockwise spin in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise spin in the Southern Hemisphere. Tropical cyclones are known by different names depending on where they occur: hurricanes in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, typhoons in the Northwest Pacific, and simply cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.