Final answer:
The Beaufort Scale is not used for tropical cyclones like Cyclone Freddy; instead, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale categorizes hurricanes by sustained wind speeds, with Category 5 being the most severe. Cyclone Freddy's potential for destruction is due to the sharp increase in wind power with velocity and can lead to extensive damage when such a hurricane strikes land.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Beaufort Scale and Cyclone Freddy
The Beaufort Scale is not typically used for describing tropical cyclones like Cyclone Freddy; instead, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is the standard system in use. This scale classifies hurricanes, such as Cyclone Freddy, into five categories, with Category 5 being the most severe, indicating sustained wind speeds of 157 mph or higher. Hurricanes, including Cyclone Freddy, can cause extensive damage due to several factors, including the power of the wind, which increases as the cube of the wind velocity, along with the associated heavy rainfall and storm surge. The destructive potential of hurricanes intensifies with higher wind speeds, as they are capable of exceeding 50 m/s (about 111 mph), resulting in catastrophic impacts when they make landfall.
Hurricanes develop in areas of low atmospheric pressure and can cause significant changes in weather patterns, including severe winds and heavy rains. The formation of these storms is contingent on warm ocean waters and other favorable atmospheric conditions. When the sustained wind speeds of a storm reach 74 mph, it is classified as a hurricane, with the potential to cause widespread destruction similar to that historically recorded for hurricanes like 1996's Hurricane Fran.