WHY PHILIPPINES IS PRONE TO TYPHOON (ALYSSA)
Good morning everyone! Today we’ll be talking on why our country, the Philippines is prone to
typhoons.
First of all, What is a typhoon? A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between
180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. These typhoons are being formed because of the
warm and moist air. Because of this warm and moist air our bodies of water evaporate (change
from liquid to gas) and rises rapidly. It eventually meets with cold air and it condenses and
starts to form clouds resulting rain showers and precipitation. When the precipitation is done,
the clouds vanish.
But how is the Philippines more prone to typhoons than the other countries?
It is because of its geographical location. As we all know the Philippines is located west of the
Pacific Ocean and is just above the Equator, bounded on the west by the West Philippine Sea,
on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the north of Bashi channel, and on the south by the Sulu
and Celebes Seas. The Philippines is also in a weather pathway near the equator known as the
“Typhoon Belt” making it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
Typhoons tend to develop in warm seas and oceans and since the Philippines is near the
equator, the weather is tropical. To add that, the nearest ocean is the Pacific which is also the
largest ocean. Since the wind in this part of the world is blowing west-ward, and since the
Philippines is located on the west side of Pacific Ocean, there is no doubt that the typhoon from
Pacific Ocean blows towards the Philippines.
The Western Pacific Ocean region (where typhoons and tropical cyclones are formed) is located
east of the Philippines. Since the weather system travels from east to west, it has plenty of time
and area to gather water evaporation on its way to the country. There are approximately 20
typhoons that hit the Philippines every year. Global warming (warmer seas) plays a part in the
intensity of the storms we’ve been seeing in the past few years.
Let’s not forget that the Philippines is an archipelago, so the provinces are prone to storm
surges which is the back and forth movement of the water waves. Add the fact that it is a
developing country, in a country where typhoon is frequent where houses should be concrete
and cemented but poverty makes that impossible. That’s why lots of damage are being made
after typhoons in the Philippines.