A hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone is a strong storm categorized by a low pressure center (the "eye") and a large circular rotation of thunderstorms.
Specifics[]
On Earth, tropical cyclones that form in the eastern hemisphere are called typhoons, whereas those in the western hemisphere are called hurricanes. They could catastrophically damage large regions on a continent. Winds beyond 200 kilometers per hour were capable of damaging reinforced 24th century Federation structures. (Adventures RPG module: The Sciences Division)
Category-5 hurricane forces paled in comparison to an ion storm [1] — though Hikaru Sulu at one time in 2271 reassured Pavel Chekov that a category-4 hurricane was of similar intensity to an ion storm before flying into one [2]. It had similar turbulence to forces experienced within the Delphic Expanse. [3] Such a storm contained more raw energy than of all of 20th century Earth's nuclear weapons combined. [4]
Typhoon-class submarines, Typhoon-class starships, as well as the Ulysses-class USS Hurricane and Defiant-class USS Hurricane are named for this type of storm.
Hurricane-force winds could be simulated in a 23rd century Starfleet holodeck recreation room. (FASA RPG module: Adventure Book) A Starfleet geodesic dome-type survival kit, when anchored securely, would allow 20 people to ride out a hurricane. (TOS novel: Planet of Judgment)
Prevention[]
Weather modification networks were deployed to prevent natural disasters such as hurricanes, particularly on colony planets. [5] However, weather control satellites were not impervious to malfunction or sabotage. [6] Not every hurricane could be predicted on Earth, even in the 24th century. [7]
Examples[]
Named hurricanes[]
- Hurricane Hilda: 19 September 1955, Mexico, Earth (DS9 novel: Unity)
- Hurrican Katrina: 29 August 2005, New Orleans, Earth (TOS novel: The Rings of Time)
- Hurrican Kevin: 2271, class 4, Atlantic Ocean, Earth (TOS novel: Traitor Winds)
- Hurricane Spot: 2381, Droplet (TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea)
- Great Red Spot: Jupiter (TTN novel: Over a Torrent Sea)
Other examples[]
The Hurricane Sea on Sicon II constantly formed such storms. (Last Unicorn RPG module: Star Trek: The Original Series Core Game Book)
On Andor, ice hurricanes over the Tavda Mountains produced a razor-storm of sleet. (ST - Myriad Universes - Infinity's Prism novel: A Less Perfect Union)
On 18 September 1863, the blockade runner CSS Raleigh sank during a hurricane in the northern Atlantic Ocean. (TOS - Strange New Worlds VIII short story: "Shanghaied")
In 2270, the thick atmosphere of Boqu II produced hurricane-force winds. (TAS - Log Eight novelization: The Eye of the Beholder)
Near the beginning of the 24th century, a race between 131 Earth sailing ships in the south Pacific Ocean was disrupted by a violent hurricane, resulting in numerous rescues and six deaths. (TNG - Gemworld novel: Book 1)
Early in the 24th century, Norpin V's retirement colony was destroyed by a catastrophic hurricane. (NF novels: Renaissance, Restoration)
In 2322, hurricanes impacted Musilla Province on Bajor. (DS9 - Terok Nor novel: Day of the Vipers)
In 2354, William T. Riker's sophomore year Starfleet Academy survival test had him endure a hurricane for six days on a jungle planet. (TNG - Double Helix novel: Infection)
In 2370 within the Jenolan Dyson Sphere, a sunstrike caused massive hurricanes to form which were wider than Earth's Atlantic Ocean. (TNG novel: Dyson Sphere)
In 2371, hurricane-force winds blasted across Darane IV shortly before the world was destroyed by orbital bombardment. (DS9 novel: Objective: Bajor)
In the early 25th century, Nog visited Jake Sisko's residence in Louisiana during hurricane season. (ENT novel: The Good That Men Do)
When the USS Enterprise-D followed the shuttlecraft Goddard through a gravity slingshot back in time around the Arhennius star, their emergence in their past was described similar to a plane emerging from the fury of a hurricane into the silence of the storm's eye. (ST novel: Engines of Destiny)
Unusual causes[]
- Asteroid impact, predicted to cause hurricane-force winds on Vesbius if not diverted (TOS novel: Devil's Bargain)
- Chorymi harvest ship, forming a miniature hurricane to repel Akkallan surface vessels on Akkalla (TOS novel: Deep Domain)
- Fusion torpedo blasts, decimating the surface of Tau Lyra III and producing hurricane-force winds (TOS novel: Crossroad)
- Genesis Device, forming typhoon-level winds on Pacifica (TOS - Strange New Worlds II short story: "The Hero of My Own Life")
- Malkus Artifact, able to form hurricanes to vanquish enemies of Malkus the Mighty (TOS - The Brave and the Bold novel: The Second Artifact)
- Malkus Artifact, used to create tornadoes inland and hurricanes along coastal regions of Slaybis IV In 2371 (TOS - The Brave and the Bold novel: The Third Artifact)
- Nuclear weapons blasts, forming a continent-sized hurricane on Talin IV two weeks later (TOS novel: Prime Directive)
- Rogue pulsar radiation, triggering climate change, including two hurricanes on Mestiko (TOS - Mere Anarchy eBook: Things Fall Apart)
- Weather modification satellites, programmed to de-terraform Mu Aurigon V (TOS novel: A Choice of Catastrophes)
- Zavada's olivium laser, causing major climate change, from hurricanes to vaporizing a planet's surface (TOS - New Earth novel: The Flaming Arrow)
Violent hurricane-prone planets[]
- Benzar, due to its vast oceans and axial tilt (Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook)
- Bolarus IX, long storm seasons due to a lack of landmasses (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
- Caldos IV, due to its turbulent atmosphere (Last Unicorn RPG module: Planets of the UFP)
- Deneva, only in the northern hemisphere (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
- Ferenginar, due to poor weather (DS9 novel: The 34th Rule)
- Gothos (TOS - Star Trek 11 novelization: The Squire of Gothos)
- Malcor III, in autumn due to oceanic rain storms (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
- Qo'noS, due to hot air movement on the far side of the planet (Decipher RPG module: Aliens)
- Remus, tropical regions in autumn and late summer (Last Unicorn RPG module: The Way of D'era: The Romulan Star Empire)
- Rimillia, due to a lack of Coriolis force to curve air currents (TOS novel: Twilight's End)
- Setlik III, due to a harsh storm season (ST - Seven Deadly Sins novella: The Slow Knife)
- Sigma Draconis V (sandstorms of hurricane intensity) (TOS novel: Cast No Shadow)
- Vanimel, due to volatile geology (DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: This Gray Spirit)
Regions known for hurricane activity[]
- Rakantha Province, Bajor (DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: This Gray Spirit)
- Thelasa-vei Province, Andor (DS9 - Worlds of Deep Space Nine novella: Andor: Paradigm)
Appendices[]
References[]
- ↑ Decipher RPG module: Starfleet Operations Manual
- ↑ TOS novel: Traitor Winds
- ↑ ENT novelization: The Expanse
- ↑ TOS - Starfleet Academy novel: Cadet Kirk
- ↑ Adventures RPG module: Beta Quadrant Sourcebook
- ↑ Last Unicorn RPG module: Planets of the UFP
- ↑ TNG - Starfleet Academy novel: Atlantis Station
- Last Unicorn RPG module: Holodeck Adventures
- TNG episode: "The Royale"
- VOY episode: "Concerning Flight"
- VOY episode: "One Small Step"
- ENT episode: "Strange New World"
External links[]
- Hurricane article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Hurricane article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.