General Tropical Storms - Paper 1

Question 1

Give two requirements of the water for tropical storms to form

Answer 1

Warm - over 27 degrees
At least 50m deep

Question 2

Describe the formation of a tropical storm

Answer 2

Warm water (over 27 degrees) evaporates.
This now warm, moist air rises, cools and condenses to form thunderstorm clouds.
Earth’s spinning then starts the spinning of the storm.
Days of more evaporation adding more heat and energy will make this into a tropical storm, which, when blown across the ocean by winds, continues to pick up heat energy.
When the tropical storm hits land, it loses its source of energy (warm water) so dies out.

Question 3

What is the source of a tropical storm’s energy?

Answer 3

Warm water

Question 4

What causes the clouds to start spinning?

Answer 4

The spinnning of the Earth (Coriolis effect)

Question 5

Why does water need to be over 27 degrees for a tropical storm to form?

Answer 5

So that the water can evaporate, rise and, when it then cools, condense to form thunderstorm clouds in the sky

Question 6

What allows a storm to gain energy?

Answer 6

Days of movement over warm water by the wind where it picks up heat energy

Question 7

What causes a tropical storm to die out?

Answer 7

Hitting land because it loses its source of energy (warm water)

Question 8

Roughly how wide can a tropical storm get?

Answer 8

Up to 300 miles (including smaller rainbands either side of the eye wall)

Question 9

Describe conditions in the eye of a tropical storm

Answer 9

Calm (no winds) and warm

While there are typically clear skies, you don’t need to say this

Question 10

What can be found beyond the eye wall?

Answer 10

Smaller rainbands with heavy bursts of wind and rain (with dry areas between)

Question 11

What can be found around the eye (the centre of the tropical storm)?

Answer 11

The eye wall - tall banks of clouds with strong winds and heavy rainfall

Question 12

What are conditions like in the eye wall?

Answer 12

Strong winds
Heavy rain

Question 13

Why might tropical storms become more frequent with climate change?

Answer 13

Increasing ocean temperatures may allow more storms to form
(more will be above 27 degrees for longer)

Question 14

What effect may climate change have on tropical storms?

Answer 14

Increased intensity as increased ocean temperatures provide storms with more energy
Changing distribution as climate change increases ocean temperatures and could extend formation zones further north and south (of the equator)
Potentially increased frequency as more water will be above 27 degrees and for longer so more storms can form