Tropical Storms

Question 1

What can tropical storms be called?

Answer 1

Hurricanes, typhoons or tropical cyclones

Question 2

What hazards do tropical storms bring?

Answer 2

Heavy rainfall, strong winds and they cause mudslides and floods

Question 3

How big is the cone of uncertainty?

Answer 3

3 to 5 days making it difficult to predict and manage a good evacuation

Question 4

What is the Coriolis effect?

Answer 4

A spinning effect caused by the earths rotation which send storms towards the poles

Question 5

What does the sea surface temperature have to be to form a storm?

Answer 5

27 degrees

Question 6

Where do tropical storms occur?

Answer 6

Over tropical seas between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, between 5-20 degrees North/South of the equator

Question 7

How do hurricanes form?

Answer 7

Warm oceans heat the air above. Rising warm air evaporates and starts to spin. Air then cools and condensed to form a towering cumulonimbus cloud. Intense low pressure sucks air in causing very strong winds

Question 8

Why do hurricanes lose there power?

Answer 8

Because tropical winds steer them towards land, by moving inshore they lose their strength as they get energy from sucking up moist sea air

Question 9

How strong was hurricane Katrina?

Answer 9

A category 4 storm in New Orleans

Question 10

Are they going to become more frequent?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

How can HICs use forecasts to reduce damage?

Answer 11

Satellite images available. TV/internet updates. Come of uncertainty. Saffir-Simpson scale

Question 12

How can LICs use forecasts to reduce damage?

Answer 12

Cone of uncertainty based on information from neighbouring countries

Question 13

How can HICs prepare?

Answer 13

Sea walls. Build further from coasts. Sand bags. Wind proof tiles. Window shutters. Storm drains. Roof truss. Water resistant windows. Strengthened structures. Ground floors wash out. Homes on stilts. Education/awareness. School lessons info. Most/all are literate. £££ to make leaflets/posters. Emergency kits/batteries. Evacuation routes. Clean yard/trim trees. Full fuel tank. Food in fridge/house. Public shelters. Important papers in waterproof containers. Baths of tap water. Torch/radio

Question 14

How can LICs prepare?

Answer 14

Plant trees. Build further from coasts. Sand bags. Wooden window shutters. Storm drains (trenches). Village cyclone shelters. Roof straps. Low literacy rates - mostly images on posters to understand. Evacuation routes. Clean yard. Public shelters

Question 15

Distribution (spread of storms)

Answer 15

Sea surface temperature increases. Tropics increase by 0.25-0.50 degrees. Areas affected are new outside current hazard zones

Question 16

Frequency (how often they occur)

Answer 16

May increase in the future but no guarantee. Busiest years since 1990 (China’s/India’s development starts). Not enough data to back it up

Question 17

Intensity (strength/power)

Answer 17

North Atlantic intensity increases in the last 20 years. Higher temperatures means bigger storms. Data’s not completely reliable because satellite images only started in the 1960’s

Question 18

El Niño Years

Answer 18

Naturally warm waters. Disrupted atmosphere as patterns change. Cold winds from Antarctica don’t cut of the top of storms. More frequent