Tropical cyclones are caused by warm sea water evaporating and rising into the atmosphere, where the Coriolis effect causes it to rotate clockwise and form a low pressure system. As more warm, moist air is drawn in and rises, releasing latent heat, the low pressure strengthens and rotation increases, eventually forming a tropical storm or cyclone if it strengthens further.

1. Research
Skills
The Dummies guide to
Dot and Jot, Notes and
Paragraphs

2. What causes Tropical Cyclones?
We start by finding text that may answer our question
READ THIS…
• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between
December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º
south of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it
begins to evaporate in large quantities. The warmed water evaporates and
rises into the atmosphere. At this time of the year this area is very calm so
the evaporated water rises in large columns. A process called the Coriolis
Effect causes the columns of air to rotate in a clockwise manner. As the
warm air rises it creates a Low pressure area beneath it causing air to be
sucked in to fill the space. This creates wind. As the warm wind moves
toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air which strengthens the
Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as condensation
creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat in the
condensation which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the
rotation speeds up causing everything to happen faster. More water is
evaporated, winds become faster and the Low pressure becomes stronger,
eventually becoming a storm and eventually a Cyclone.
http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com 2

3. What causesTropical Cyclones?
Sometimes this is easier to understand by breaking it up.
• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between
December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º south
of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it begins to
evaporate in large quantities.
• The warmed water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. At this time of
the year this area is very calm so the evaporated water rises in large columns.
A process called the Coriolis Effect causes the columns of air to rotate in a
clockwise manner. As the warm air rises it creates a Low pressure area
beneath it causing air to be sucked in to fill the space. This creates wind.
• As the warm wind moves toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air
which strengthens the Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as
condensation creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat in
the condensation which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the
rotation speeds up causing everything to happen faster. More water is
evaporated, winds become faster and the Low pressure becomes stronger,
eventually becoming a storm and eventually a Cyclone.
http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com
3

4. Tropical Cyclones?
Now we need to identify the important information
• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between
December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º south
of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it begins to
evaporate in large quantities.
• The warmed water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. At this time of
the year this area is very calm so the evaporated water rises in large columns.
A process called the Coriolis Effect, a result of the earths rotation, causes the
columns of air to rotate in a clockwise manner. As the warm air rises it creates
a Low pressure area beneath it causing air to be sucked in to fill the space.
This creates wind.
• As the warm wind moves toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air
which strengthens the Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as
condensation creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat
which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the rotation speeds up
causing everything to happen faster. More water is evaporated, winds
become faster and the Low pressure becomes stronger, eventually becoming
a storm and eventually a Cyclone.
http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com
4

5. Dot and Jot
COPY the important points into your Dot’n’Jot sheet.
• occur between December and March
• between 5º and 15º south of the equator
• at least 26ºc
• The warmed water evaporates and rises
• evaporated water rises in large columns
• Coriolis Effect , a result of the earths rotation
• rotate in a clockwise
• it creates a Low pressure
• This creates wind
• up even more evaporated air
• air rises it releases the water as condensation
• releases the latent heat
• rotation speeds up
• everything to happen faster
• the Low pressure becomes stronger
• eventually a Cyclone
http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com accessed 28/04/09
5

6. Dot and Jot to Notes
Now add words to make the notes into sentences.
 Tropical Cyclones occur between December and March
 In an area between 5º and 15º south of the equator
 The water must reach at least 26ºc
• The warmed water evaporates and rises
 The evaporated water rises in large columns
 The Coriolis Effect , a result of the earths rotation
 Causes it to rotate in a clockwise manner
 This creates a Low pressure Zone
 The low attracts air which creates wind
 It attracts even more evaporated air
 As the air rises it releases the water as condensation
 It also releases the latent heat in the condensation
 The increased heat means the rotation speeds up
 Now everything to happen faster
 the Low pressure becomes stronger
 and eventually it becomes a Cyclone
http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com accessed 28/04/09
6

7. Tropical Cyclones?
SO THIS…
• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between
December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º
south of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it
begins to evaporate in large quantities. The warmed water evaporates and
rises into the atmosphere. At this time of the year this area is very calm so
the evaporated water rises in large columns. A process called the Coriolis
Effect causes the columns of air to rotate in a clockwise manner. As the
warm air rises it creates a Low pressure area beneath it causing air to be
sucked in to fill the space. This creates wind. As the warm wind moves
toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air which strengthens
the Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as condensation
creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat in the
condensation which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the
rotation speeds up causing everything to happen faster. More water is
evaporated, winds become faster and the Low pressure becomes
stronger, eventually becoming a storm and eventually a Cyclone.
http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com
7

8. Dot and Jot to notes to Paragraph
BECOMES THIS…
Tropical Cyclones occur between December and March. In an area between 5º and
15º south of the equator. The water must reach at least 26ºc. The evaporated water
rises in large columns. The Coriolis Effect , a result of the earths rotation. Causing it to
rotate in a clockwise manner. This creates a Low pressure Zone. The low attracts air
which creates wind. It attracts even more evaporated air. As the air rises it releases
the water as condensation. It also releases the latent heat in the condensation. The
rotation speeds up. Now everything to happen faster. The Low pressure becomes
stronger and eventually it becomes a Cyclone
http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com accessed 28/04/09
8