Tropical Storms Flashcards
What is the definition of a tropical storms?
A low pressure weather system with torrential rain and strong winds spiralling around the middle
How are tropical storms formed?
Over water that is 26.5 degrees Celsius or warmer
How can the speed of a tropical storm be increased
When a lot of energy is released when evaporated air rises and cools
Where does the strength of a tropical storm fall?
On land or cooler parts of the ocean
What direction do tropical storms move and why?
Westwards because of the Coriolis effect
What causes the Coriolis effect?
The rotation of the earth
What is the Coriolis effect?
When circulating air deflects wind
What are features of a tropical storm?
Circular, spans hundreds of km wide and lasts 1-2 weeks
What direction does a tropical storm spin in the northern hemisphere?
Anti-clockwise
What direction does a tropical storm spin in the southern hemisphere?
Clockwise
What are the 3 parts of a tropical storm?
Eye, eyeball and edges
What are features of the eye of a tropical storm?
The centre of the storm, can be up to 50km wide, there’s no rain, warmer ground temperatures and low pressure
How is the eye of the storm formed?
By cool descending air from the eyewall
What are features of the eyewall of a tropical storm?
Surrounds all sides of the eye, there is a lot of rain, winds are very strong and hot air rises
What are features of the edges of a tropical storm?
Conditions are intermediate, clouds are small and scattered and wind speed, rain intensity and temperature are all moderate
