Chapter 11- Hurricanes Flashcards
As a strong hurricane moves ashore,which of the following causes the. Most devastating damage in the coastal zone?
Storm surge
What determines when a tropical depression or storm is given hurricane status ?
Wind speed
What type of clouds is most common in a hurricane?
Cumulonimbus
What general circulation wind belt is the place of origin for hurricanes?
Trade winds
Why do hurricanes in the atalntic move toward the west during their early stage ?
Prevailing winds from the east
The initial detection and monitoring of tropical storms that may become hurricanes is accomplished by
Satellites
Why do hurricanes initially form only in the tropics?
Warm temperature are found there
Which of the following is more intense? A tropical storm? tropical depression? Or disturbance?
A tropical storm.
What are the stages of a hurricane?
Thunderstorm–disturbance–depression–storm–hurricane
Hurricanes form at which latitidue usually
5-15 degrees
What causes the winds of a hurricane to be so fast?
Very strong gradient force
Since the detection and tracking of hurricanes is now quite accurate, why does damage from these storms continue to increase?
Continued development of coastal areas
Which of the following can diminish the intensity of a hurricane?
Moving over land because it loses it’s source of energy which is the moisture from the ocean.
What months should hurricane formation be at its peak in the North Atlantic?
August-September
Hurricanes are generally
Larger than tornadoes,
Smaller than mid latitude cyclones
Areas of heavy rainfall and strong winds
Most common in late summer and early fall
Why is the eye of region of a hurricane largely free of precipitation and clouds?
Sinking air motion
The spreading or dilution of pollutants into the atmosphere is best when the winds are
Strong and variable (gusty)
The capacity of the atmosphere to disperse and dilute the pollutant materials is
Limited and very small
Which of the following is a natural source of pollutants not accentuated by humans?
Pollens
Dangerous indoor air pollutants include
formaldehyde and cigarettes smoke
Meteorological conditions are important in air pollution episodes since they
Determine the amount of dilution
Dilution or mixing of air pollutants into the surrounding air is best when
Air is unstable
Assume you live in an urban setting and an inversion is present. Which of these bees describes in your area if the inversion remains for 2 or 3 days?
Visibility gets worst
The primary purpose of a smoke stack is to
Reduce the concentration of pollutants at ground level
Temperature inversions are associated with
Restricted mixing depth
Inversions represent a hazardous meteorological condition with respect to air pollution because they always bring
A near total lack of mixing
