Comparison between temperate and tropical cyclones
| Feature | Temperate Cyclones 🌍 | Tropical Cyclones 🌀 |
| Origin | Frontal action (collision of warm and cold air masses) | No fronts involved |
| Formation Area | Can form over both land and sea | Form only over warm ocean waters |
| Size | Larger area, covering hundreds of kilometres | Smaller in size compared to temperate cyclones |
| Movement | Move from west to east (due to westerlies) | Move from east to west (due to trade winds) |
| Affected Region | Affect larger areas, spreading across continents | Affect smaller areas but cause more destruction |
| Wind Speed | Moderate wind speeds, less destructive | Very high wind speeds, extremely destructive |
| Occurrence | Form in mid-latitudes (35°-65°) | Form in tropical regions (5°-30°) |
| Temperature Characteristics | Different temperatures in different parts due to multiple air masses | Uniform temperature throughout the system |
| Rainfall Distribution | Multiple rainfall cells, meaning rainfall is not uniform | Single large rainfall cell, leading to heavy rains in all parts |
| Mobility | Always move west to east | Can be stationary, sometimes staying in one place for days |
Remember:
✔ Temperate cyclones are larger but less destructive, occurring in mid-latitudes.
✔ Tropical cyclones are smaller but more intense, occurring only over warm oceans.
