Tropical Storms

Question 1

What are the different names for tropical storms?

Answer 1

Hurricanes, Cyclones and Typhoons.

Question 2

Where are hurricanes found?

Answer 2

Hurricanes form over the North Atlantic Ocean and Northwest Pacific.

Question 3

Where are Cyclones found?

Answer 3

Cyclones form over the South Pacific or Indian Ocean

Question 4

Where are Typhoons found?

Answer 4

Typhoons form over the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

Question 5

What are the conditions for a tropical storm to form?

Answer 5

Require large, still ocean surface (>26.5℃)
Require low altitude winds to start formation
Warm moist air sucked into the tropical storms
Condensation releases latent heat, providing more energy to the storm
Coriolis effects starts the spinning of the storm
Lowest pressure at the centre of the storm, pressure differences drives wind speed

Question 6

What is the Coriolis effect?

Answer 6

As air moves over the earth it is “deflected” by the rotation of the earth
This is due to the earth rotating faster at the equator than the poles
No “force” involved. Deflection seen by observer
In the northern hemisphere air is deflected to the right, south hemisphere to the left.
Jet streams (fast flowing narrow bands of high altitude winds) sit between the circulation cells.