Winds, cyclones and tornadoes

Question 1

what is wind?

Answer 1

Wind can be defined as motions of the atmosphere driven by atmospheric pressure differences. It is the movement from high pressure (more molecules) to low pressure (fewer molecules)The molecules want to equalize so the extra molecules at high-pressure flow to the area of low pressure.

Question 2

what is the unit for air pressure

Answer 2

millibars (mbar or mb)

Question 3

what is the average sea level air pressure

Answer 3

Sea‐level average pressure:1013.25 mb.

Question 4

what is the highest ever recorded sea level pressure

Answer 4

1050 mb

Question 5

Lowest recorded sea‐level pressure:

Answer 5

870 mb

Question 6

what are iscobars

Answer 6

Isobars are lines on a map connecting areas of equal pressure.

Question 7

in the northern hemisphere, how do winds rotate

Answer 7

counter clockwise

Question 8

in the southern hemisphere, how do winds rotate§

Answer 8

clockwise

Question 9

what weather is caused by a high-pressure system

Answer 9

fair weather

Question 10

how is fair weather created by high-pressure systems?

Answer 10

the air sinks, which suppresses the upward motions required for clouds to develop, which causes fair weather.

Question 11

what weather is caused by low-pressure systems

Answer 11

opposite of fair weather so clouds and precipitation occur

Question 12

high pressure zone is…

low pressure zone is..

Answer 12

The high-pressure zone is an anticyclone and the low-pressure zone is a cyclone.

Question 13

what is the The Beaufort wind speed scale

Answer 13

the Beaufort scale goes from 0-17, judging the effects of the wind.

Question 14

what is 0 and what is 17 on the Beaufort wind speed scale

Answer 14

0 is calm and 17 is a hurricane.

Question 15

how many knots does the wind have to be traveling at to be considered a hurricane

Answer 15

The wind is not classed as a hurricane until speed gets above 100km/hr or 64 knots

Question 16

what are the three stages of tropical cyclones

Answer 16

depression - tropical storm - hurricane

Question 17

tropical depression

Answer 17

20 - 30 knots - starting to define itself

Question 18

tropical storm

Answer 18

34 to 64 knots - stronger winds, starting to form circular pattern

Question 19

hurricane !!!

Answer 19

over 64 knots - clearly defined storm with rotation and eye.

Question 20

what is the scale used for hurricanes

Answer 20

the saffir Simpson scale, goes to 1 to 5

Question 21

what factors are needed to form a hurricane

Answer 21

ocean temp more than 26degrees. water depth more than 50m, velocity to give hurricane initial rotation, an area of high pressure above the low-pressure system.

Question 22

how do hurricanes weaken

Answer 22

Tropical storms and hurricanes weaken when their source of heat and moisture is cut off. When hurricanes move over land, they lose their source of energy. However, if they move over an area of water with the correct conditions, they can re-intensify.

Question 23

what surrounds the eye of the hurricane what is the windspeed like here

Answer 23

the eye wall, fastest windspeed, densest cloud

Question 24

secondary hazards from hurricanes

Answer 24

storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, and riptides.

Question 25

where are hurricanes called hurricanes

Answer 25

Atlantic and East Pacific oceans.

Question 26

where are hurricanes called typhoons

Answer 26

Western North Pacific and Philippines

Question 27

where are hurricanes called cyclones

Answer 27

Indian and South Pacific oceans.

Question 28

how are hurricanes measured

Answer 28

Hurricanes can be measured with remote sensing. The storm and hurricane dimensions, wind speed, pressure and change, air and sea temperature, and wave conditions.