Severe Weather Notes Flashcards
Lightning happens when
An electric discharge that takes place between positively charged area and a negatively charged area
Thunder is the sound caused by
Rapid expansion of air along the lightning strike
What percent of tornadoes happen in the US? what percent of thunderstorms become tornadoes
75%;1%
How long are tornadoes and what is the average wind speed and the spinning wind speed
Length: 8km long 10-60m wide
Wind speed120-180km/hr
Spinning winds up to 500 km/hr
Hurricane wind speed
At least 110 km/hr
Names for hurricanes in the western pacific and Indian Ocean
Western pacific: typhoon
Indian Ocean:cyclone
Diameter of a hurricane
160-1500 km
How do hurricanes form
Begins as thunderstorms, winds split in different directions,energy is obtained from condensation of water vapor, once it hits warm ocean water, condensation fuels the hurricane
Strongest part of the hurricane and the wind speeds
Eye wall
Winds up to 300 km/hr
The names of hurricanes are assigned in advance for a ________ year cycle
6
Storm surge height
8 m high, 65-160 km long
The storm surge has its greatest highly right before it crashes into the
Shore
Thunderstorms are caused when
Warm, moist air rises