Tropical Revolving Storm and Hurricane Formation

Question 1

Where do TRS’s form and why?

Answer 1

• Over warm water (26.5 C or higher)
• Provides heat and moisture

Question 2

What does the warm water then do?

Answer 2

• Causes the air to warm up and evaporate
• Creates low pressure at the surface

Question 3

What happens at this low pressure area?

Answer 3

• Higher pressure air rushes in to replace the rising air
• This air is also walm and moist

Question 4

What does the coriolis effect do?

Answer 4

• It causes the rising air to spin around the low pressure centre

Question 5

What happens to warm, rising air?

Answer 5

• As the warm air rises, it cools and condenses, creating clouds and releasing heat
• This heat fuels the storm, making it stronger

Question 6

What happens to the structure of the storm?

Answer 6

• As it strengthens, the rotation becomes organized and an eye forms.
• An eye wall surrounds the eye and it is where the strongest winds occur

Question 7

The storm is at it’s strongest point. What then happens?

Answer 7

• The tropical storm has developed with heavy rain,strong winds and an eye and eye wall
• Driven by strong winds, it travels across the ocean towards land

Question 8

What is wind shear?

Answer 8

Wind shear refers to the change in wind speed or direction in a hurricane.