Where and how are tropical storms formed? Flashcards
What is a tropical storm?
A huge storm that develops in the Tropics, known as hurricanes in the USA and Caribbean, cyclones in south-east Asia and Australia, and typhoons in Japan and the Philippines.
Tropical storms can cause significant devastation to small islands and coastal regions.
What are the conditions necessary for the formation of tropical storms?
Tropical storms form over warm oceans (above 27 °C), during summer and autumn, and most commonly 5-15° north and south of the Equator.
The Coriolis effect is important for the rotation of tropical storms.
Why do tropical storms not form at the Equator?
There is not enough ‘spin’ from the rotation of the Earth at the Equator, which is necessary for storm formation.
The Coriolis effect is the phenomenon that causes this ‘spin’.
What happens to a tropical storm when it reaches land?
The storm’s energy supply is cut off, friction with the land slows it down, and it begins to weaken.
If the storm reaches warm seas after crossing land, it may regain strength.
What is the ‘eye’ of a tropical storm?
The center of the storm where air descends rapidly, surrounded by the eyewall where the most intense weather occurs.
The eyewall features strong winds and heavy rain.
At what wind speed does a storm officially become a tropical storm?
When surface winds reach an average of 120 km per hour (75 miles per hour).
What causes the energy for tropical storms?
The condensation of air releases heat, which powers the storm and draws up more water from the ocean.
This process is essential for the storm’s development.
Fill in the blank: Tropical storms primarily form over _______ oceans.
warm
What is the primary reason for the instability of air in tropical regions?
The intense heat causes the air to rise rapidly.
How many hurricanes typically affect the east coast of the USA?
Hurricanes are most likely to affect the east coast of the USA from August to October.
How many cyclones affect Australia on average each year?
On average, 10 cyclones affect Australia each year.
True or False: The most intense weather conditions in a tropical storm are found in the eye.
False
List the names of tropical storms in different regions.
- Hurricanes (USA and Caribbean)
- Cyclones (south-east Asia and Australia)
- Typhoons (Japan and the Philippines)
What is the significance of the Coriolis effect in the formation of tropical storms?
It provides the necessary spin for the storm’s rotation.
Describe the process of how a tropical storm gathers strength over the ocean.
As the storm is carried across the ocean by prevailing winds, it gathers strength by drawing up warm, evaporated water.
