This document discusses Typhoon Haiyan, which was ravaging the Philippine Islands. It provides background information on typhoons, explaining that they are similar to hurricanes in that they are both tropical cyclones. The key differences are that hurricanes occur in the Atlantic and impact the US, while typhoons occur in the western Pacific and can happen any time of year. Typhoon Haiyan is classified as a Category 5 storm, the strongest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale used to rate hurricanes.

1. Math in the News
Issue 83
Super Typhoon Haiyan
In this issue we look at the typhoon ravaging the Philippine Islands.

2. To get a better understanding of Typhoon Haiyan, see this
video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=T0v6Gol83F0

3. What is a Typhoon?

4. Source: NOAA
If a typhoon looks a lot like a hurricane, that’s because
they’re both similar weather phenomena. The following
Venn Diagram will show similarities and differences.

5. Both hurricanes and Typhoons are examples of Tropical
Cyclones.

6. They are similar in structure and have similar physical
properties.

7. Hurricanes occur mostly in the Atlantic and tend to hit
the US.

8. Typhoons occur in the western part of the Pacific and
can occur any time of the year.

9. The Saffir-Simpson Scale
• The Saffir-Simpson
scale is used to
categorize
hurricanes based
in part on their
wind speed.
• (Source
www.nooa.gov.)

10. Year
Name
2002 Lili
2003 Claudette
2003 Isabel
2004 Alex
2004 Charley
2004 Gaston
2004 Frances
2004 Ivan
2004 Jeanne
2005 Cindy
2005 Dennis
2005 Katrina
2005 Ophelia
2005 Rita
2005 Wilma
Category
Wind Speed
(mph)
1
92
1
92
2
104
1
81
4
150
1
75
2
104
3
121
3
121
1
75
3
121
3
127
1
75
3
115
3
121
Typhoon Haiyan is considered a Category 5 and you
can see how it compares to these hurricanes from the
past decade.

11. Your Turn
•
•
•
Tropical cyclones also
include other weather
phenomena. Create a
Venn Diagram that
includes the
relationship among
these terms.
– Tropical Depression
– Tropical Storm
– Hurricane
– Typhoon
Describe the
differences among
these categories.
Use Web resources like
www.noaa.gov.