American Meteorological Society Certification (AMS) Practice 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Cyclones primarily occur at sea due to the warm ocean waters that provide the necessary heat and moisture to fuel these large storm systems. The process of evaporation from warm sea surfaces contributes to the energy required for cyclone formation, creating areas of low pressure that can develop into tropical cycles under the right atmospheric conditions. Tropical cyclones, such as hurricanes and typhoons, typically originate in warm ocean regions where the conditions are ideal for their development.

In contrast to mountainous terrains, continental areas, and desert regions, these environments do not offer the same level of warmth and humidity needed for cyclonic activity. While cyclones can occasionally impact coastal areas and influence weather patterns over land once they move inland, their genesis and most intense development occur over the warm waters of the oceans. This phenomenon is critical to understanding cyclones and emphasizes the importance of sea surface temperatures and humidity in their formation.