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10 Three tropical cyclones form over the Pacific this summer. Saomai went on to devastate the Chinese coast. JEFF SCHMALTZ/MODIS RAPID RESPONSE TEAM/GSFC
9 Tropical cyclones are not rare events--and may even be increasing in frequency. This image tracks all such storms between 1985 and 2005.
8 Tropical cyclones vary widely in size and strength as shown here by the smallest and largest as compared to the continental U.S. NOAA
7 Hurricane Andrew pounded Florida in 1992 with strong winds and pelting rain. NOAA
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6 This cross-section reveals the powerful winds at work within these storms, including the heat chimney, or eye, in the center. ROBERT SIMMONS, NASA GSFC
5 Satellite imagery reveals the strong rains unleashed by Hurricane Irene in 2005. HAL PIERCE/NASA
4 Such bands release enormous amounts of rain, fueling the destructive power of the storm, in this case Isidore. NOAA
3 This cross-section shows the swirling winds that power the storm as well as its rain bands. NOAA
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2 Tropical cyclones form when disturbances encounter high humidity, warm seas and light winds in the upper atmosphere. ROBERT SIMMONS, NASA GSFC
1 Tropical Cyclone Catarina was the first such storm ever observed in the South Atlantic. NASA
