Why did Mangkhut become a super typhoon in the Pacific?

Long sea travel and warm ocean activity made Mangkhut quickly become a powerful storm.

Tropical Depression 26W , formed on September 7, quickly intensified into a super typhoon Mangkhut in the Western Pacific region, expected to affect many areas of the Philippines, China, Hong Kong and South China Morning Post today. believe. Vietnam can also be directly affected by this super typhoon.

Photograph of super typhoon Mangkhut from satellites on September 13.(Photo: NASA).

Mangkhut has all the necessary elements to become a super typhoon , according to Professor Gabriel Lau Ngar-cheung, an atmospheric scientist at Zhongkang University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. " The whole path of the storm is now on the water and through the world's warmest waters, the eastern sea of ​​the Philippines," he said.

The longer the water travel time, the more energy the storm will gain and become stronger. Historically, storms along the southwest or south - southwest are the most intense storms. For example, super typhoon Hato caused serious damage last year, and the 1962 super typhoon Wanda also killed 130 people and left 72,000 homeless.

Mangkhut, meaning Thai mangosteen, was the strongest storm to sweep across Hong Kong since 1946, when it began collecting storm data. The strongest winds near the storm center can reach 240km / h.