Accumulated Cyclone Energy: What it is, How it is Calculated, and How it Determines Seasonal Activity
As we approach the start of Atlantic hurricane season, a term you may see pop up now and then is “Accumulated Cyclone Energy.” Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) is a measurement of the activity of a hurricane season, based on storm intensity and duration. It is calculated for each individual storm by taking the sum of the storm’s intensity, in knots, squared, at six-hour intervals, divided by 10000. For instance, if a storm had 40-knot winds for one advisory, the ACE…