Tropical Storms 🩵 Flashcards
How do tropical storms form?
1) Tropical Storms start between 5º and 30º north and south of the equator, where surface sea temperatures reach at least 26.5ºC
2) Air is heated above the surface of these warm tropical oceans. The warm air rises rapidly under low-pressure conditions.
3) The rising air draws up more airing large volumes of moisture from the ocean, causing strong winds.
4) The Coriolis effect (spinning movement of the Earth) causes the air to spin upwards around a calm central eye of the storm.
5) As the air rises, it cools and condenses to form large, towering cumulonimbus clouds, which generate torrential rainfall. Heat is given off when the air cools and powers the tropical storm.
6) Cool air sinks into the eye. Therefore, there is no cloud, so it is drier, clear and much calmer.
7) The tropical storm travels across the ocean by the prevailing wind.
8) When the tropical storm meets land, it is no longer fuelled by the source of the moisture and heat from the ocean, so it loses power and weakens.
Where are tropical storms located?
5-30 degrees north and south of the equator
Where are hurricanes located?
Northeast pacific and Atlantic
Where are cyclones located?
South Pacific and Indian ocean
Where are typhoons located?
Northwest pacific
What conditions are needed for tropical storms to form?
.between 5-30 degrees north and south of the equator
.sea temperature 27 degrees or higher
.low wind sheer
What are some features/structures of tropical storms?
.centre of storm is called the eye
.eye is surrounded by an eye wall
.towards the edges of the storm, wind speed falls, the clouds become smaller and more scattered, rain becomes less intensive and the temperature
Features of a tropical storm eye?
.up to 50km across
.caused by descending air
.low pressure, light winds, no clouds, no rain and high temperature
What are some features of the eye wall?
.spiralling rising air
.very strong winds
.storm clouds and torrential rain
How can climate change affect tropical storms?
Frequency- oceans will stay at 27 degrees or higher for longer each year, so there is a longer period for storms to form per year
.distribution- as the average ocean temperature rises, more of the worlds oceans could be above 27 degrees which could mean they may start to form in areas that haven’t experienced them before
Intensity- higher sea surface temperatures are likely to result in more evaporation and increased cloud formation, so more energy is released and storms become more powerful
How can we reduce the effects of tropical storms?
.prediction and monitoring- can be monitored using radar satellites which can predict where and when a tropical storm is going to happen
.planning- plan emergency evacuation plans
.protection- buildings can be designed to withstand storms, floodwater defences can be built along rivers
