Hurricanes

Question 0

What happens in hurricanes due to pressure gradient force?

Answer 0

Winds blow into center of hurricane

Question 1

What are hurricanes?

Answer 1

Large ocean storms of intense low pressure and high winds

Question 2

What causes hurricanes to rotate in a counterclockwise direction?

Answer 2

Coriolos effect

Question 3

Where the the term hurricane apply?

Answer 3

Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean

Question 4

What are hurricanes called in the Western pacific? In the Indian Ocean?

Answer 4

Western Pacific- typhoons

Indian- Tropical Cyclone

Question 5

T/F the lower the pressure, the higher the rotational speed.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

T/F hurricanes rotate clockwise south of the equator.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What four conditions need to occur in order to have a hurricane?

Answer 7

1. Warm ocean water 80 degree F or more
2. Preexisting thunderstorm activity,
3. High relative humidity
4. favorable winds in the upper troposphere to allow strong circulation

Question 8

How do most hurricanes begin?

Answer 8

Most begin as Tropical waves which are unorganized thunderstorms over the ocean

Question 9

What happens after tropical waves advance?

Answer 9

They become organized and begin to rotate resulting in tropical depressions

Question 10

What happens of winds in tropical depressions increase beyond 38mph?

Answer 10

They turn into tropical storms

Question 11

What is a tropical storm reclassified as if it’s winds reach over 74mph?

Answer 11

Hurricanes

Question 12

What 4 factors can weaken Hurricanes and Tropical storms?

Answer 12

1. They encounter cool water
2. They make landfall
3. They encounter dry air
4. They are sheared by unfavorable upper atmospheric winds

Question 13

When is the Early Season in the Atlantic for hurricanes?

Answer 13

June 1st through July 31st most storms form in Caribbean & Gulf of Mexico

Question 14

What is the Cape Verde Season in the Atlantic for hurricanes?

Answer 14

August 1st to September 30th tropical waves form near the west coast of Africa and slowly develop as they move west

Question 15

What is the Late Season in the Atlantic for hurricanes?

Answer 15

October 1st to November 30th storms form in the southern Caribbean

Question 16

What is the Saffir Sampson Scale?

Answer 16

Scale of 1 to 5 categorization of hurricanes. Based in part on sustained rotational wind speed. Category 3 and above are considered major storms

Question 17

What are some problems with the Saffir Simpson Scale?

Answer 17

1. Doesn’t account for speed of hurricane.

2. Does not account for rainfall generated by storm.

Question 18

What are the specifications of the Saffir Simpson Scale for Categories 1 & 2?

Answer 18

Category 1: Wind 74- 95 mph very dangerous, some damage

Category 2: Wind 96-110mph extremely dangerous, will cause extensive damage

Question 19

What are Categories 3, 4, & 5 on the Saffir Simpson hurricane wind scale?

Answer 19

Category 3: 111-129 mph devastating damage will occur
Category 4:130-156 mph devastating damage will occur
Category 5: over 156 mph catastrophic damage will occur

Question 20

Hurricane Storm surge height is greatly affected by the strength of the storm, but what other factors are involved?

Answer 20

Shape of the coastline, landscape of the continental shelf, high tide vs. low tide(time of day), spring tide vs. neap tide (time of month)