Hurricanes Flashcards
What is a tropical cyclone?
A warm core, low pressure system without any ‘front’
Define tropical meteorology
the study of the atmosphere on the equatorial side of subtropical heights.
State the factors that control the difference of tropical and extratropical systems
- thermal Advection
- Fronts
- Surface convergence
- Upper level flow
- General circulation
State the differences between tropical and extratropical forecasting
- Small value of the coriolis parameter
- The high air temperature
- The strong surface heating of the air
identify the start and finish dates of hurricane season
June 1 through November 30 with peak activity in September
What is the fundamental process in the formation of hurricanes
Latent Heat release
What are the 2 energy sources at work during the formation of a hurricane?
Latent heat
Sensible heat
What are the points of the positive feedback loop which enhances storms
- Intense latent heating, divergence aloft lowers surface pressure
- Lower surface pressure (convergence) increases the pressure gradient generating stronger winds
- stronger winds increase friction
- Stronger convergence into storms center
- enhance convection, back to step 1
List the 6 elements required for the formation of a huricane
Latitude Over ocean Positive low level vorticity Conditional instability mid-tropospheric humidity minimum vertical shear
what latitude do hurricanes form?
5-15 degrees
What is the ocean temperature required?
26.5 degrees
tropical cyclones only form in regions where _______ humidity is high.
mid level
Hurricanes require minimum vertical shear because:
it prevents energy from being dispersed and allows for the enhancement of convection currents
List the meteorological hazards associated with hurricanes:
Wind Rain Thunderstorms Storm surges Tornadoes
what is the hurricane wind scale called and the low and max values
Shafir- Simpson hurricane intensity scale
64 kts to 200 kts
