Tropical Storms and Hurricanes Flashcards
Types of weather hazards
- Tropical storms
- Tornados
- Droughts
- Storms and floods
- Fog
What is a tropical storm
A tropical storm is a hazard that brings heavy rainfall, strong winds and other related hazards such as mud slides and floods
Which latitudes do tropical storms normally form
Between 5 and 30 degrees
Why are tropical storms names
So they are easier to identify especially when they are close together
What do hurricanes need a lot of to form
Heat which is why they form over tropical seas (at least 26 degrees)
What provides energy to heat the ocean
The sun
How does a hurricane form
- The warm ocean heats the air above it causing it to rise rapidly
- Water evaporates from the hot surface of the ocean so the rising air gets lots of water droplets
- The rising air starts to spin
- The centre of the storm- the eye is calm
- As the air rises it cools and forms towering cumulonimbus clouds
- The rapidly rising air creates an intense area of low pressure. The low pressure sucks in air, causing very strong winds
- Once the storm moves over land it loses energy and fades
When and where was hurricane Katrina
New Orleans, USA on the 25th August 2005
Hurricane Katrina’s effects on people
1,800 people died
300,000 homes were destroyed
3 million people were left with no electricity
People had to move out of the area
Economic impacts of Hurricane Katrina
300 billion dollars of damage Oil platforms were destroyed Shops were looted Fuel prices skyrocketed Tourism decreased
Environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina
The storm surge flooded large areas of the coast
80% of New Orleans flooded as man-made leeves, overwhelmed by extra water, broke.
Cotton and sugar cane crops were destroyed
Delicate costal habitats were destroyed
Tornadoes were created
