Atmospheric Hazards- Tropical Storms

Question 1

Where do tropical storms originate?

Degrees?

Answer 1

In the tropics- 5-30 degrees N/S

Question 2

What are tropical storms in the Atlantic called?

Answer 2

Hurricanes

Question 3

What are tropical storms in the Indian ocean called?

Answer 3

Cyclones

Question 4

What are tropical storms in the north pacific ocean (east Asia) called?

Answer 4

Typhoons

Question 5

What does the sea surface temperature need to be for a tropical storm?

Answer 5

26.5 degrees celcius

Question 6

How deep does water need to be for a tropical storm to form?

Answer 6

70m

Question 7

How are tropical storm measured?

What is it dependant on?

Answer 7

Using the Saffir-Simpson scale (1-5)

Wind Speeds

Question 8

How wide are tropical storms typicaly?
What is the width of the eye?
How tall are they?

Answer 8

480km
Eye- 16-48km
6 miles tall

Question 9

How are tropical storms formed?

Answer 9

• Where the sea has a minimal surface temp of about 26.5…
• Surface water will rapidly evaporate
• Then it quickly cools and condenses to form cumulonimbus storm clouds, which stay intact due to low wind sheaf
• Low pressure is created below the storm, causing air to rush in, increasing wind speed
• This new air will also get heated by the sea and start to rise as well
• Tropical storms will start to spin due to the coriolis effect
• The eye of the storm is created as cooler air sinks (it then rises again to fuel the storm)
• As tropical storms travel, further evaporation will increase their energy and strengthen them over the ocean.
• Once they reach land, they fade

Question 10

Which way do tropical storms travel?

Answer 10

East to West

Due to easterlies

Question 11

Give 4 conditions for tropical storms to form

Answer 11

• Moisture
• Temp of min 26.5 degrees celsius
• Large body of water
• 5-30 degrees off the equator

Question 12

How can computer modelling be used?

Answer 12

Data collected from satellites and aircraft us used by supercomputers to predict the intensity and path of tropical storms
This means 5-7 day warnings are now possible
The path can be predicted within 400km

Question 13

What is the travelling speed of a tropical storm?

Answer 13

10-15mph

Question 14

Vocab

What is low wind shear?

Answer 14

Constant and stable winds. This means tropical storm clouds can form without being torn apart

Question 15

Vocab

What is the coriolis effect?

Answer 15

As the earth rotates, it causes wind to bend. This causes tropical storms to spin. The coriolis effect is weak over the equator, meaning that tropical storms can’t spin

Question 16

What is a tropical storm?

Answer 16

A metrological hazard that is a low- pressure, rotating weather system

Question 17

Which way do tropical storms spin in the northern hemisphere?

Answer 17

Anti- clockwise

Question 18

Which way do tropical storms spin in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 18

clockwise

Question 19

What is the eye wall?

Answer 19

Rapidly rising warm air spirals upwards, cools, condenses and large cumulonimbus clouds form. These make the eye wall and produce heavy rainfall and huge wind speeds.

Question 20

What is the eye of the storm like?
Why?

Answer 20

Here, cold air sinks. Conditions are calm and dry.

Question 21

Why the Eye is Calm (extra)

Answer 21

The air pressure in the eye is much lower than the surrounding areas. As air moves toward the low-pressure center, it rises and creates thunderstorms. The intense winds around the eye wall help to pull air away from the center, which is why the eye itself experiences little wind or rain.

Question 22

What is a rainband?

Answer 22

Outside bits of the tropical storm.

Question 23

How can you monitor tropical storms? [3 Marks]

Answer 23

• Satellites
• Computer Modelling
• Aircraft

Question 24

How can you plan and prepare for a tropical storm? [3 Marks]

Answer 24

• Typhoon proof buildings
• Education
• Evacuation