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The Typhoon Forecasters of Guam

November 18, 2013

Why do tropical cyclones apparently develop out of thin air - and how can we predict what path they will take?

https://p.dw.com/p/1AJOr
Typhoon Haiyan is pictured in this NOAA satellite handout image taken November 6, 2013 at 23:13 UTC. The Philippines evacuated coastal areas and put emergency workers on alert on Wednesday as a storm expected to grow into a super typhoon headed towards central islands still recovering from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit last month. REUTERS/NOAA/Handout via Reuters (PHILIPPINES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Image: Reuters/NOAA

Answering questions like these is the task of researchers at the US's NOAA weather service on the island of Guam. Many typhoons form here, some 2,000 kilometers east of the Philippines, before sweeping across the western Pacific. The Philippines is currently struggling in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical storms ever recorded. Tomorrow Today reports on the work of the storm watchers, who despite their increasing knowledge, remain powerless in many respects.


Meteorologists on Storm Tracks

The Typhoon Forecasters of Guam