The number of hurricanes occurring annually on a global basis
varies widely from ocean to ocean. Globally, about 80 tropical
cyclones occur annually, one-third of which achieve hurricane
status. The most active area is the western Pacific Ocean, which
contains a wide expanse of warm ocean water. In contrast, the
Atlantic Ocean averages about ten storms annually, of which six
reach hurricane status. Compared to the Pacific Ocean, the
Atlantic is a much smaller area, and therefore supports a
smaller expanse of warm ocean water to fuel storms. The Pacific
waters also tend to be warmer, and the layer of warm surface
waters tends to be deeper than in the Atlantic. The frequency
and intensity of hurricanes varies significantly from year to
year, and scientists haven’t yet figured out all the reasons for
the variability. Hurricanes and El Niño Scientists continue to
investigate the interactions between hurricane frequency and El
Niño. El Niño is a phenomenon where ocean surface temperatures
become warmer than normal