Tropical Storms

Question 1

factors affecting tropical storm formation

Answer 1

sea temperatures - 27c
deep water
- provide energy for evaporation and condensation to fuel storm

low wind sheer
- strong winds can disrupt storms formation, prevents it strengthening and dissipates

low pressure

Coriolis effect, spinning
(not directly on equator)
- occur between 5 and 30 degrees N+S of equator

Question 2

formation of a tropical storm

Answer 2

• warm moist air rises to create an area of low pressure
• more air continues to rise and condense forming clouds
• deepens area of low pressure, causes winds to converge there
• latent heat released from this condensation creates more warming and rising so provides the storm with move energy
• continues to rise and condense, creates tall cumulonimbus clouds
• air sinks in the middle to create the eye
• Coriolis effect and trade winds causes the storm cloud to spin
• moves towards land
  (losing energy once on land, non of the conditions needed and friction)

Question 3

magnitude

Answer 3

measured of Saffir-Simpson scale - wind speed and damage

category 1 - 120-150km/h
catagory 5 - over 250km/h

Question 4

frequency

Answer 4

frequency - 100/ year

some never reach land, not a hazard

have seasons:
Northern hemisphere, June - november
southern hemisphere, November - April

Question 5

distribution

Answer 5

form in tropics - warm enough water
not on equator - not enough spin
- 5-30 degrees N+S of equator

most destructive storms in SE Asia - 33%

Question 6

regularity

Answer 6

irregular
little temporal or spatial pattern

• temporal based on seasons
• spatial only happen where condition needed are

Question 7

predictability

Answer 7

satellite imagery
- detect cloud formations where a storm may be forming
- can be tracked
- work out when and where it’ll hit land

path can be predicted
- not always accurate, can change path

Question 8

preparedness

Answer 8

emergency services trained

governments plan evacuation routes

educate people how to prepare and evacuate

Question 9

prevention

Answer 9

cant be prevented

but areas most at risk can be adapted to reduce risk
land use zoning
sea walls prevent effects of storm surges

Question 10

adaptation

Answer 10

buildings designed to withstand storms
- reinforced concrete
- fixed roofs, not blown off
- stilts, no flooding

flood defences along rivers and coasts
- levees and sea walls

Question 11

mitigation

Answer 11

emergency services
evacuations
safe buildings/ defences

Question 12

tropical storms hazards

Answer 12

storm surges - wind pushes water towards coast, or low pressure pulls it
account for 90% tropical storm deaths
- cause flooding and contamination of water

flooding - river discharge increased by rain, or storm surges
- damage to agriculture and buildings

landslides - heavy rain infiltrates ground, less stable
- cause death and damage

heavy rain
- flash floods, damage buildings

high winds - over 300km/h
- damage infrastructure and buildings

Question 13

how will climate change effect tropical storms?

Answer 13

Higher sea levels - more flooding and storm surges
Warmer sea temperatures - more rain, flooding
warmer seas in more places, more areas vulnerable, tropics expanding

models suggest 90% increase in category 4 and 5 in USA

Question 14

Factors that affect vulnerability to storms (6)

Answer 14

Size and intensity of storm
Speed of storm
Distance from sea
Physical geography eg relief
Preparations of community
Response/warning effectiveness