Case Study Tropical Storms: HIC US

Question 1

Where do tropical storms form?

Answer 1

between 5 and 30 degrees on either side of the equator
- and then move westward due to easterly winds

Question 2

which way do tropical storms spin?

Answer 2

anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere
clockwise in the southern hemisphere

Question 3

what conditions need to be met for a tropical storm to form?

Answer 3

• warm water of 27 degrees to at least 50m below the surface
  > causes high evaporation rates
• convergence of air, ITCZ boundary form between warm and cold air
  > two hadley cells
• disturbance near the surface of the water
  > area of low pressure
• form between 5N and 5S of the equator as it has the certain amount of spin, Coriolis effect
• uniform wind direction at all levels

Question 4

how are tropical storms able to be tracked?

Answer 4

• measured on the saffir-simpson scale
  > wind speeds over the damage caused
• able to predict though satellite imagery
• there is no clear pattern or trend on formation

Question 5

what are some hazards linked with tropical storms?

Answer 5

• high winds: 120km/h- 250km/h
  > strongest winds in the eye wall
• storm surge: large rise in sea levels caused by pulsing winds
  > average 3m in height
• heavy rain: warm air rises and condenses
• flooding: river discharge increases/ coastal flooding
• land slides: infiltration makes the rocks less stable

Question 6

Where did hurricane Sandy form?

Answer 6

-in the Caribbean on the 22nd of October 2012

Question 7

when did hurricane Sandy make landfall?

Answer 7

• Jamaica on the 24 of October
• US on the 29th of October

Question 8

what was the strength of Hurricane Sandy?

Answer 8

• category 3
• 185km/h wind speeds
• 1800km in diameter

Question 9

what was the primary impacts of Hurricane Sandy?

Answer 9

• 233 dead, 158 dead in US
• caused $65 billion in damages in the US
• 24 US states effected
• 10 billion tonnes of sewage flooded NY
• 80% of crops in Haiti washed away

Question 10

what were the short term responses for Hurricane Sandy?

Answer 10

• domestic concerts to raise $17 million
  > Disney and ABC
• relief bill for $48 billion passed

Question 11

what were the long term responses to hurricane Sandy?

Answer 11

• plans to build either artificial islands or to strengthen sand dunes to protect the coast in NY

Question 12

how do hurricanes form?

Answer 12

• warm moist air drawn in at the base due to the warm ocean
• which is replaced by air drawn in at the surface
• central vortex will develop as more air is drawn in and rises
• centre of the storm is created as the air rises and starts to spin
  > column of dry sinking air
• as air rises it rapidly cools
  > causes condensation and formation of clouds
• when condensation occurs latent heat is released which powers the storm
• will grow and develop as it is driven by the prevailing winds across the ocean
• when reaching land the supply of energy and moisture is cut off and storm starts to decay

Question 13

how is a storm surge formed?

Answer 13

• intense low atmospheric pressure
• powerful driving surface winds