Tropical cyclones in 1997
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Tropical cyclones in 1997 | |
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Year boundaries | |
First system | Phil |
Formed | December 26, 1996 |
Last system | Susan |
Dissipated | January 8, 1998 |
Strongest system | |
Name | Linda |
Lowest pressure | 902 mbar (hPa); 26.64 inHg |
Longest lasting system | |
Name | Paka (Rubing) |
Duration | 25 days |
Year statistics | |
Total systems | 108 |
Named systems | 89 |
Total fatalities | 6,019 |
Total damage | $5.6 billion (1997 USD) |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Ivan_and_Joan_18_oct_1997_0503Z_N14.jpg/220px-Ivan_and_Joan_18_oct_1997_0503Z_N14.jpg)
1997 was regarded as one of the most intense tropical cyclone years on record, featuring a record 12 category 5-equivalent tropical cyclones, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The year also featured the second-highest amount of Accumulated Cyclone Energy on record, just behind 1992. Throughout the year, 108 tropical cyclones have developed in bodies of water, commonly known as tropical cyclone basins. However, only 89 tropical cyclones were of those attaining 39 mph or greater, falling just below the long term average of 102 named systems. The most active basin was the Western Pacific, attaining an ACE amount of 571, the highest ever recorded in any season in any basin on record. The deadliest tropical cyclone was Severe Tropical Storm Linda (Openg). The costliest tropical cyclone was Super Typhoon Winnie (Ibiang), which set a record for having the largest eye on record. The most intense tropical cyclone was Hurricane Linda, peaking at 902 hPa/mbar. Typhoon Paka (Rubing), the longest-lived system, produced the third-highest ACE for a single tropical cyclone, just behind Typhoon Nancy (1961) and Hurricane/Typhoon Ioke (2006).
Tropical cyclones are primarily monitored by a group of ten warning centres, which have been designated as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) by the World Meteorological Organization. These are the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) and Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Météo-France, Indonesia's Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Papua New Guinea's National Weather Service, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) as well as New Zealand's MetService. Other notable warning centres include the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), and the Brazilian Navy Hydrographic Center.
Global conditions
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/1997_El_Nino_TOPEX.jpg/200px-1997_El_Nino_TOPEX.jpg)
In January 1997, satellites gathering information on water temperatures and sea level heights discovered an area of unusually warm water situated across the western half of the Pacific Ocean. About 150 m (490 ft) below the surface, water temperatures were about 3 °C (5.4 °F) above normal, signifying that an El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event was beginning. By this time, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography had forecast that an ENSO was likely to take place during the latter half of 1997.[1] Throughout February, water temperatures began increasing over much of the Pacific as well as in shallower waters off the coast of Peru. The above-average water temperatures covered an area roughly 11,000 km (6,800 mi) across, almost stretching from New Guinea to South America.[2] By April, the ENSO became fully established; a column of warm water extended to the surface in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and water anomalies exceeded 5 °C (9 °F) about 150 m (490 ft) below the ocean surface. At the surface off the coast of Peru, water temperatures averaged 3 °C (5.4 °F) above normal.[3]
Exceedingly warm waters became apparent by May, especially off the coast of South America where anomalies were reaching 7 °C (12.6 °F) above normal. Further north, sea surface temperatures along the Pacific coast of North America were increasing, with a large pool of water being 3 °C (5.4 °F) above normal.[4] By September 1997, the ENSO became very powerful, with surface temperatures between South America and the International Dateline averaging 2-4 °C (3.6-7.2 °F) above normal, roughly a quarter of the planet's diameter. Additionally, waters along the Pacific coast of North America continued to expand, now stretching from Alaska to southern Mexico. A contrasting area of abnormally cool waters took shape near the coast of Australia by September as well, with waters 150 m (490 ft) below the surface averaging 4 °C (7.2 °F) below normal.[5] Along the Pacific coast of the Americas, the volume of 21 to 30 °C (70 to 86 °F) water was roughly 30 times greater than that of all the water in the Great Lakes combined. The extra heat energy created by this anomaly was also about 93 times more than the energy produced by fossil fuels in the United States during 1995.[6]
Summary
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/bfrj0mhkop4haz2dk67orgbntoa76bf.png)
Systems
January
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/DRENA_1997_jan_06_0322Z.png/220px-DRENA_1997_jan_06_0322Z.png)
Storm name | Dates active | Max wind km/h (mph) |
Pressure (hPa) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | Refs |
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Phil | January 1-12
FebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberReferences
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