Tropical Storms

Question 1

What are tropical storms?

Answer 1

Tropical storms are huge storms that are incredibly powerful and can cause devastation to small islands and coastal regions. Intense areas of low pressure

Question 2

In the USA and Caribbean what do they call tropical storms?

Answer 2

Hurricanes

Question 3

In south east Asia and Australia, what do they call tropical storms?

Answer 3

Cyclones

Question 4

What do they call tropical storms in the Philippines and Japan?

Answer 4

Typhoons

Question 5

Describe the distribution of tropical storms?

Answer 5

• Occur within the tropics of cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn 5 degrees and 20 degrees north and south of the equator
• equator runs through the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean
• north of the equator, move Westwood and also south
• occur most on the western side of Central America and off south east Asia

Question 6

What are the nature of tropical storms?

Answer 6

• intense low pressure weather systems
• develop in the tropics
• usually measure 200-700km in diameter
• they begin with an area of low pressure resulting from surface heating into which warm air is drawn in a spiralling manner
• small scale disturbances can enlarge into tropical depressions with rotating wind systems and these may continue to grow into a much more intense and rapidly rotating system the TRS

Question 7

Oceans need to be a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, why is this?

Answer 7

This provides a continuous source of heat in order to maintain rising air currents

Question 8

Oceans need to be a depth of at least 70m, why is this?

Answer 8

The moisture provides latent heat: rising air causes the moisture to be released by condensation and continuation of this drives the system

Question 9

Why must it be 5 degrees north or south of the equator?

Answer 9

In order that the Coriolis force can bring about the maximum rotation of the air

Question 10

There must be a low level of convergence air why is this?

Answer 10

In the lower atmospheric circulation system winds have come together near the centre of the low pressure zone

Question 11

Atmospheric instability is a important condition, why?

Answer 11

Rapid outflow of air in the atmospheric circulation- this pushes away the warm air which has risen close to the centre of the storm

Question 12

Latent heat and a moisture supply is important, why?

Answer 12

This provides energy and low frictional drag on the ocean surface

Question 13

Once a storm develops, what happens?

Answer 13

• central eye develops, this area 10-15km in diameter in which there are calm conditions, clear skies, higher temperatures and descending air
• wind speeds of more than 300km/hr have been observed around the eye
• once the system reaches land or colder waters pole wards, it will decline as the source of heat and moisture is removed

Question 14

What are the characteristics of a tropical storm?

Answer 14

• symmetry around the eye
• the most damaging is the bank of cloud the rings the central eye, called the eye wall
• cloud and rain extended in a series of waves beyond the eye wall
• tornadoes can be formed within a TRS
• life span of 7-14 days
• 80-100 storms a year 80% become TRS

Question 15

What do we use to measure the magnitude of a tropical storm?

Answer 15

The Saffir Simpson Scale

Question 16

When was the scale developed?

Answer 16

1917

Question 17

What is the scale based on?

Answer 17

Central pressure, wind speed storm and potential damage

Question 18

What does the scale by take into account?

Answer 18

Rainfall therefore it has a limitation

Question 19

What does the overall pattern show as the category increases?

Answer 19

As the category increases, the wind and storm surge increase but however the surface pressure decreases as the category increases

Question 20

Are the higher category’s always the most destructive?

Answer 20

Depending on the location, population density, wether or not the country is a LIC or HIC and how infrastructure is built

Question 21

What is the first step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 21

The sun sends incoming solar radiation to earth which warms our oceans

Question 22

What is the second step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 22

This warms the oceans to a critical 27 degrees Celsius

Question 23

What is the third step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 23

The high sea temperature causes the warm moist air to rise from the ocean through the air in thermals

Question 24

What is the forth step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 24

The evaporated air cools as it rises and condenses to form towering thunderstorm clouds

Question 25

What is the fifth step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 25

As the air condenses it releases latent heat which powers the storm and draws up more and more water from the ocean

Question 26

What is the sixth step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 26

Several smaller thunderstorms join together to form a giant spinning storm

Question 27

What is the seventh step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 27

The storm develops an eye at the centre where air descends rapidly, conditions are clam and clear here. The outer eye wall is where the strongest winds and heaviest rain occurs

Question 28

What is the eighth step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 28

As the storm is carried across the ocean by prevailing winds, it continues to gather strength from the warm moist sea

Question 29

What is the ninth step in explaining a tropical storm?

Answer 29

On reaching the land the storms energy supply (warm moist water vapour) is cut off. Friction with the land begins to slow it down and it begins to weaken

Question 30

What are the social impacts of tropical storms?

Answer 30

• death and injury
• people becoming homeless
• stress and trauma
• waterborne diseases, cholera
• looting
• insurance premiums may rise

Question 31

What are the economic impacts of tropical storms?

Answer 31

• repairing the damage
• properties are damaged
• business close therefore loss of earnings and jobs
• oil prices may rise due to the difficulty in extraction and transportation
• exports may be lost

Question 32

What are the environmental impacts of tropical storms?

Answer 32

• sea fish may be killed as a result of silting while freshwater fish may be killed during a storm surge
• crops damaged
• flooding, landslides and mudslides
• damaged ecosystems- plant and animal habitats destroyed