(NOAA)
A tropical cyclone is the generic name for a hurricane and a typhoon. They all form the same way, but their names change depending on their location (National Ocean Service). The name hurricane is specific to a type of storm that takes place in the Northeast Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, a cyclone occurs only in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, while typhoons happen only in the North West Pacific (Landsea).
Regardless of the name, there are certain environmental conditions that must be present in order for such a hazard to form. According to the National Weather Service, a tropical cyclone, is a warm-core, low-pressure system without any attached front that develops over tropical or sub-tropical waters and has organized circulation. (National Weather Service).
(NOAA)
At least three environmental conditions are needed for a tropical cyclone to form. The first important factor is that tropical cyclones need warmth and moisture in the atmosphere to exist. This means that the temperature of water at the surface must be warm enough so that it can fuel the hurricane (water temperatures must be at least 80 degrees). The second important factor is that moisture from the atmosphere must combine with heat and energy to fuel the hurricane. Thirdly, a tropical cyclone requires a wind patterns to be near the surface of the ocean, a group of thunderstorms, which push air high into the atmosphere and wind levels high in the atmosphere that are relatively light, which helps the beginning formation of the hurricane stay intact (Netting).
Cites
Netting, Ruth.United States Department of Commerce. NASA. Tropical Twisters: Hurricanes: How They Work and What They Do?. NASA, 2003. Web.
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/hurricane/creation.html
NOAA. United States Department of Commerce . NOAA: National Weather Service . Tropical Cyclone Introduction .2012. Web.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/tropics/tc.htm
NOAA. United States Department of Commerce. NOAA: National Ocean Service . Only Difference Between a Hurricane, a Cyclone and a Typhoon is the Location Where the Storm Occurs . 2011. Web.
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/cyclone.html
Landsea, Chris.United States Department of Commerce. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Hurricane Research Division: Frequently Asked Questions . 2011. Web.
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A1.html