What is the energy potential of a tropical cyclone?
Tropical Cyclone can be compared to a heat engine. The energy input is from warm water and humid air over tropical oceans. Release of heat is through condensation of water vapour to water droplets/rain. Only a small percentage (3%) of this released energy is converted into Kinetic energy to maintain cyclone circulation (windfield). A mature cyclone releases energy equivalent to that of 100 hydrogen bombs.
