Hurricanes Flashcards
What areas are typically affected by hurricanes?
Carribean, South- eastern USA
How are hurricanes measured?
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane wind scale
What is the 1st phase of the Saffir-Simpson Hurrricane wind scale?
1- Wind speed - 74 - 95 mph
- very dangerous will produce some damage
What is the 2nd phase of the Saffir - Simpson Hurricane wind scale?
2 - wind speed - 96 - 110 mph
- extremly dangerous will cause extensive damage
What is the 3rd phase of the Saffir - Simpson Hurricane wind scale?
3- wind speed 111 ~ 129 mph
- devastating damage will occur
What is the 4th phase of the Saffir - Simpson Hurricane wind scale?
4- wind speed 130 ~ 156 mph
- castrophic damage will occur
What is the 5th phase of the Saffir - Simpson Hurricane wind scale?
5- wind speed 157 mph ++
- castrophic damage will occur
What is a shear force?
A difference in wind speed and/or direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere
What is a storm surge?
an unusual, often descructive rise in sea level in a costal area, caused by
What are tsunamis also known as?
Tsunamis are also known as..
typhoons - southwest pacific
cyclones - indian oceans
What letters are not used when naming hurricanes?
Q , U , X, Y, Z
How long are hurricane names recycled for?
hurricane names are recycles every 6 years
however if a hurricane causes extensive damage, it’s name is retired from use
When does hurricane season occur in the atlantic?
June 1 - Novemeber 30
With most intense storms occuring in between mid august & mid october
What impact does global warming have on hurricanes
- warmer ocean temperatures
- larger hurricanes
- more rain
- stronger winds
-higher storm surges
Why are hurricanes caused?
tremendous amount of heat energy stored within the ocean, causing huge imbalance.
since nature likes to balance stuff out hurricanes are caused
Where do hurricanes typically form?
Tropical waters west of Africa, near Cape Verde Islands.
Where sea-surface temperatures in this region is above 26.5 degrees celsius,
How are hurricanes created?
water vapour
from the ocean rises and creates an inward movement of air.
air spirals toward the centre of
the disturbance,
moving faster as the storm gets larger
as long as winds in the upper atmosphere
do not produce a shear force to
disrupt the system, the storm can
increase in height and breadth until
it reaches hurricane status, gaining
strength as it moves westward toward
the Caribbean and picking up energy from the warm Atlantic waters.
