L1 - Tropical Cyclones - Causes and Characteristics Flashcards
Where in the world do tropical cyclones form and what are the names?
Cyclone - Indian, South Pacific oceans
Typhoon - Western North Pacific
Hurricane - North Atlantic, USA Pacific coast
How is the strength of a tropical cyclone measured?
Saffir-Simpson scale - 1-5 (5 is worst), measures wind speed
What conditions lead to the formation of a tropical cyclone?
Ocean 26.5 degrees C +
Trade winds converge at equator
Occur from 5-30 degrees N and S of equator
Deep water layer
What are the first 2 stages of a tropical cyclone?
1) Warm air rises from ocean, as the warm air rises more air rushes in to replace it creating low pressure system.
2) The air drawn up has lots of water vapour, it spins due to the Coriolis effect and trade wind convergence, they then condense and form cumulonimbus clouds. As condensation occurs lots of energy is released energising the cyclone.
What are the next 2 stages of a tropical cyclone?
3) As the clouds are formed huge spiralling rain bands form
4) Descending air causes high pressure in the eye, no rain, clear
Around the eye is the eye wall which has the strongest clouds with heaviest rain and thickest wind.
In which direction do cyclones spin in the northern and southern hemisphere?
Northern - anticlockwise
Southern - clockwise
What happens to the storm as it comes inland?
The energy dissipates, so the storm dies out.
How high do the cumulonimbus clouds rise?
10-12km
In which direction do the tropical cyclones travel?
East to west
