Why are there way less hurricanes in the southern hemisphere then the northern?

Question

Why are there way less hurricanes in the southern hemisphere then the northern?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

There are no hurricanes in the Southern Hemisphere because those storms in the Southern Hemisphere are called Tropical Cyclones. Likewise, in the western Pacific, they’re called Typhoons.

Semantics aside, the southern oceans are cooler than the northern ones. The northern Atlantic currents don’t mix as much with the Arctic Ocean because of the GIUK gap, and northern Pacific currents are separated from the Arctic by the narrow Bering Strait. So the water is warmer.

The southern currents, however flow along Antarctica, so are cooler. Cold currents and high wind shear mean the southern Atlantic just doesn’t produce tropical cyclone at all (there is only one ever recorded).

The southern Pacific and Indian Oceans are just a lot of water to heat up as well.