hypercane
/ˈhaɪ.pə(ɹ).kən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A 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).
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "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."
- "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."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: /ˈhaɪ.pə(ɹ).kən/