Study - Dec. 11 Quest Flashcards
What is a hurricane?
A large circular rotating storm that forms over warm ocean waters
Which way does a hurricane rotate?
Clockwise in Southern hemisphere; Counter clockwise in Northern hemisphere
What happens in the spiral rain bands of a hurricane?
“Squally” weather, tornadoes
What happens in the eye wall of a hurricane?
Strongest winds and rain
What happens in the eye of a hurricane?
Calm, blue sky
If a hurricane’s speed is in the range of 74-95 mph, what would it’s category be?
Category 1
If a hurricanes speed is in the range of 95-110 mph, what would it’s category be?
Category 2
If a hurricanes speed is in the range of 111-129 mph, what would it’s category be?
Category 3
If a hurricanes speed is in the range of 130-156 mph, what would it’s category be?
Category 4
If a hurricanes speed is greater than or equal to 157 mph, what category would it be in?
Category 5
What is a tornado?
A small scale violently rotating columns of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm
What are some environmental tornado conditions?
Warm unstable air mass with a vertical motion, thunderstorms, and directional wind shear - Winds in different directions and different heights; this provides spin to the atmosphere - creates supercell thunderstorms
What is a tornadoes structure?
Updrafts and downdrafts, stronger the updraft the more hail potential, and directional wind shear will cause the column to rotate
If a tornadoes speed was 65-85 mph, what would be it’s EF?
EF-0
If a tornadoes speed was 86-110 mph, what would be it’s EF?
EF-1
If a tornadoes speed was 111-135 mph, what would be it’s EF?
EF-2
If a tornadoes speed was 136-165 mph, what would be it’s EF?
EF-3
If a tornadoes speed was 166-200 mph, what would be it’s EF?
EF-4
If a tornadoes speed was 200+ mph, what would be it’s EF?
EF-5
What are the top 5 states for earthquakes to happen in?
Alaska, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Washington
How do earthquakes occur?
Pressure builds as tectonic plates converge, diverge, or slide past each other. When the pressure releases, an earthquake happens
Where do most earthquakes happen?
Pacific ocean or “Ring of Fire”
What scale is used to rate the severity of earthquakes?
The Ritcher Scale; 1-10; 1 is least severe; 10 is most severe
What are seismometers?
Seismometers measure the severity of earthquakes and are found underground
What are p-waves?
Slow moving, deep, an can move through molten rock. They are seismic waves that are created by earthquakes
What are s-waves?
Fast moving, found near surface, and can’t move through molten rock. They are seismic waves that are created by earthquakes.
What is the focus?
Point where quake occurs under the surface of the earth
What is the epicenter?
Point where quake is centered on the surface of the earth
What is a foreshock?
Smaller quakes that happen before the main earthquake; don’t always happen
What is an aftershock?
Smaller quakes after the main earthquake
What are tsunamis?
Large waves of water that come from earthquakes in the ocean
What are tsunamis caused by?
Earthquakes in the ocean
How fast can tsunamis be?
Can reach speeds of 500 mph
How high can a tsunami be?
Can reach a height 100 feet
Where are tsunamis most common?
The pacific ocean
In which U.S state did the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964 occur: Hawaii, Washington, California, or Alaska?
Alaska
If there was an earthquake with magnitude 5.0 and another with a magnitude of 3.0, how many times stronger is the 5.0 earthquake?
20 times stronger
