hypercane

English

Etymology

Blend of hyper- +‎ hurricane

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈhaɪ.pə(ɹ).kən/
• Hyphenation: hy‧per‧cane

Noun

hypercane (plural hypercanes)

1. (meteorology, very rare) An hypothetical class of an extremely severe hurricane with ocean temperatures reaching approximately 50 °C (122 °F) and formed by significant conditions, such as extensive global warming, having wind speeds exceeding 800 kilometers per hour (500 mph).
   • 1940, Current Biography Yearbook‎^[1], H. W. Wilson, page 181:

     Moreover, as Hecht reported, “The Sun’s ultraviolet radiation would act on stratospheric water droplets to form hydroxyl radicals. Together with chlorine from saltwater thrown up by the hypercane these radicals could destroy vast quantities of stratospheric ozone. UV radiation would then reach the Earth’s surface unhindered, killing organisms on land and in the upper layers of the ocean.

   • 2005 September 16, Stephen Leahy, “The Dawn of the Hypercane?”, in ipsnews.net/news‎^[2], archived from the original on 17 May 2008:

     Hypercanes is a speculative attempt to explain mass species extinctions 245 million years ago. Computer models showed that continent-sized super-storms with winds averaging 600 kilometres per hour could be produced if oceans warmed to an incredible 45 to 50 degrees C. Such temperatures are impossible today barring a massive meteor strike or gigantic underwater volcano eruption.

   • 2020 September 20, EricFromOuterSpace, GenghisKazoo, “Catastrophic Hurricanes Are the ‘New Normal,’ and They Will Cost Trillions”, in reddit.com‎^[3]:

     True hypercanes require an ocean temperature of about 50 degrees C, which is 15 degrees hotter than the hottest temp ever recorded. I think they're only a thing after asteroid impacts in the ocean and supermassive underwater volcanoes.

See also

• hyperhurricane