Accumulated Cyclone Energy facts for kids

Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) is a special way to measure how strong and long-lasting tropical storms and hurricanes are. It helps scientists understand how active a hurricane season has been. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) uses ACE to track tropical cyclones, especially during the Atlantic hurricane season. It's like a score that shows the total energy a storm or a group of storms has released over time.

What is Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE)?

ACE stands for Accumulated Cyclone Energy. It is a tool used by weather experts. This tool helps them measure the power of tropical storms. It looks at how strong a storm is and how long it lasts. A higher ACE value means a storm was very powerful or lasted a long time. It can also mean a hurricane season had many strong storms.

How is ACE Calculated?

Calculating ACE involves a simple formula. Scientists look at the top wind speed of a tropical storm. They do this every six hours during the storm's life. They square the wind speed, which means multiplying it by itself. Then, they add up all these squared values. This sum gives the ACE value for that storm. The final number is then divided by 10,000 to make it easier to read.

• ACE measures a storm's wind speed and how long it lasts.
• It is calculated every six hours.
• The wind speed is squared (multiplied by itself).
• All these squared values are added together.
• The total is then divided by 10,000.

Why is ACE Important?

ACE is important for several reasons. It helps scientists compare hurricane seasons. They can see if one year was more active than another. It also helps them understand climate patterns. For example, a season with a very high ACE might suggest warmer ocean waters. This information helps people prepare for future storms. It also helps predict how active upcoming seasons might be.

• ACE helps compare different hurricane seasons.
• It shows if a season was very active or quiet.
• Scientists use it to study climate and ocean changes.
• It helps in predicting future storm activity.
• This information aids in preparing for hurricanes.

See also

In Spanish: Energía Ciclónica Acumulada para niños