Tropical Cyclones

Question 1

conditions required for cyclogenesis

Answer 1

1. Enough coriolis force to develop low pressure centre
2. sufficiently warm sea surface temps
3. Low vertical wind shear (homogenous speed and direction in vertical air column)

Question 2

Why is there an absence of tropical cyclones in Pacific side of South America?

Answer 2

Cold water

Question 3

Tropical Disturbance

Answer 3

water vapour condenses to form clouds, releasing heat, which warms air and forms convective clouds. This continues and winds starts circulating around a center, and the system becomes a cluster of thunderstorms, called tropical disturbance.
150-500km across

Question 4

Cause of tropical disturbance

Answer 4

1. Easterly waves: thunderstorms forming on the east side of the atlantic have potential to form hurricanes
2. Cold front:

Question 5

Tropical depressions

Answer 5

Air at surface moves toward low pressure area, rises, creating thunderstorms, causing spinning
- when winds reach 17m/s it is a tropical depression

Question 6

storm surge

Answer 6

• 8 to 160km wide dome of water that sweeps over coastline during landfall

Question 7

storm surge mechanisms

Answer 7

Water approaching land piles up creating storm surge

Question 8

Continental shelf slope

Answer 8

• level of surge in area is determined by slope of continental shelf
• if steep there will be less of a storm surge
• if shallow more storm surge