General

Question 1

How many storms per year do tropical oceans generate

Answer 1

80-100

Question 2

Where is the highest number of storms (3)

Answer 2

Pacific Ocean
Then Indian Ocean
Then Atlantic Ocean

Question 3

Where are most powerful storms (2)

Answer 3

Western pacific
Effect Japan and Philippines

Question 4

When do majority of storms occur (2)

Answer 4

Late summer to autumn
This is when sea temperatures are at their highest

Question 5

What is frequency of storms (3)

Answer 5

The frequency of storms in the Atlantic has increased since 1995 but no overall global increase
Evidence = more intense
Calculated = energy released by the average storm increased 70% in past 30 years

Question 6

Characteristics of storm (4)

Answer 6

Circular
Hundreds of km wide
Last 7-14 days
Spin clockwise in Southern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in northern hemisphere

Question 7

Key conditions for storms (3)

Answer 7

Sea temp = 27°C or higher
Location = 5° N or S of the equator = strong enough Coriolis effect
Low pressure caused by atmospheric disturbance – a thunderstorm

Question 8

Tropical storms formation (5)

Answer 8

Warm, moist air rises and as it does condenses forming clouds
Condensation releases latent heat energy = more warming and further rising
Deepens the area of low pressure + winds converge on the area as a result
Cumulonimbus clouds (thunder clouds) form
Storm spins and moves over warm oceans it continues to gather warm, moist air

Question 9

Why do cumulonimbus clouds for

Answer 9

Result of evaporation and condensation
Due to the action of the winds and the Coriolis effect the storm starts to spin

Question 10

What happens when a tropical storm has occurred (4)

Answer 10

Once windspeed = 74mph = tropical storm
Air descends around the storm = fuel it = positive feedback loop
The trade winds contribute to the formation of tropical storms and the direction they travel
When the storm reaches land it loses its source of energy + friction with the land surface = storm dissipates

Question 11

What are trade winds (2)

Answer 11

Winds that blow east to west along the equator
Depict direction of storm

Question 12

What is Saffir-Simpson scale (4+)

Answer 12

Categorised 1-5 scale
1 = winds of 120-150km/h
5 = winds over 250km/h
Estimates how much damage a storm will do given its magnitude