Extreme storms

Question 1

Stage 1 of Hurricanes

Answer 1

tropical disturbance:
A tropical disturbance is this formation of loosely packed rain clouds forming thunderstorms. Wind circulation is very light, with meager chances to cause any amount of damage. This storm system is officially considered a tropical disturbance once it maintains its structure for more than twenty-four (24) hours. They can have sustained winds of up to twenty-three (23) miles per hour

Question 2

Stage 2 of hurricane

Answer 2

Tropical depression:
Winds become more organized, circulating in the center of the storm. A tropical depression begins to take the shape of a more significant storm; however, it doesn’t have the power necessary to take the next step and still lacks the true form

warm air is drawn into low pressure center and increases storm power

Question 3

Stage 3 of Hurricane

Answer 3

Tropical storm:
Tropical storms look like hurricanes, just smaller in size and strength. Tropical cyclones are nothing to brush off, though. These storm systems bring heavy rains, capable of causing severe flooding wherever they make landfall.
High amounts of rain, and winds have gotten to 63 km/hr

Question 4

Stage 4 of Hurricanes

Answer 4

Hurricanes:
Winds are larger 119 km/hr
warm water needs to be hotter than 26*C
Large temp gradient in the atmosphere (rapid cooling and condensation) Hurricanes
A tropical storm becomes a hurricane as soon as its wind speeds reach seventy-four (74) miles per hour. It takes the true final form of a hurricane as its eye forms completely, and its distinct parts become recognizable. Hurricanes are judged by tiers, following the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (HWS).

Question 5

The pathway is determined by

Answer 5

location of formation

pre-existing atmospheric conditions

Question 6

Cyclone Hazards (3)

Answer 6

Winds, Storm surges, and Rain Fall

Question 7

How are winds a hazard

Answer 7

windspeeds are highest over where energy dissipation is highest, the storm gets energy from warm ocean water. (Windspeeds decrease rapidly overland)
Hurricanes may transition into lower energy extra tropical cyclones as they encounter land which makes blizzards and tornadoes!

Question 8

How are storm surges hazards?

Answer 8

Higher sustained wind speeds make large storm surges
can be over 3m the normal tide
associated with highest hurricane fatalities
shallow broad coastlines develop higher storm surges
normally most impactful at right quadrant of hurricane

Question 9

How is rainfall a hazard?

Answer 9

Cyclones produce 4 trillion L of water, so it causes heavy rain.
may cause flooding, eroding, and landslides
the extent of the flooding is contributed to by:
storm speeds
terrain
interaction with other weather systems
amount of water in the soil, streams, and lakes proper to the storm.

Question 10

Why has tropical cyclone movement weakened?

Answer 10

climate change has changed temperatures, lowering the force of easterlies

Question 11

Extra-tropical cyclones

Answer 11

northern pacific
large, low pressure storms
brings atmospheric rivers
50% of annual precipitation

Question 12

how do you calculate flood frequency

Answer 12

reoccurrence interval= (N+1)/(M)
where N is the number of years of the record
and M is the number of occurrences for a specific event

Question 13

mitigation for surges

Answer 13

elevated structures on pile ons

building dams and levees

Question 14

mitigation for wind

Answer 14

strengthing roofs

instaling storm shutters

Question 15

non-strucutural mitigation

Answer 15

education and better forecasting