Hurricanes Flashcards
true or false?
hurricanes/typhoons/cyclones are all intense storms?
yes
what is a storm (very simple answer)
an area of low pressure
what happens if more latent heat is released during a storm?
the storm grows bigger
where will tropical storms ONLY form?
- over warm oceans with temperatures from 27 degrees
- changes of wind speed with altitude
- a large supply of moist air from evaporation
what is the Coriolis effect?
the spin of the earth
what does the Coriolis effect do to storms?
causes the storms to rotate
why don’t tropical storms form on the equator?
the Coriolis effect is not strong enough there to make the storm spin
what happens to a storm when wind speeds exceed 72mph?
it gets named
how are hurricanes measured?
Saffir-Simpson scale
what happens if a storm takes a life?
its name can never be used ever again
what are the three main hazards from a hurricane?
- storm surges
- high wind speeds
- heavy rainfall
what damage does high wind speeds do?
- destroys buildings that aren’t secure
- debris could be thrown at people
- trees can block access routes
what damage does heavy rainfall do?
- large amounts of precipitation in rain form
- will fall during the storm
- flooding will occur in urban areas
- river banks may break
what damage does storm surges do?
- due to low pressure the sea levels slightly rise
- strong winds make the sea more choppy
- low lying coastal areas are at risk for flooding
why do people live in hazardous areas?
money (they might not have enough money to move)
jobs (employment may be essential to places)
pleasant environment (pretty)
