Term
| What are the TROPICAL LOCATIONS in which TROPICAL CYCLONES develop? |
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Definition
1. The ATLANTIC and EASTERN PACIFIC
2. The WESTERN PACIFIC
3. The INDIAN OCEAN and AUSTRALIA
4. the PHILIPPINES |
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Term
| What are the LOCAL NAMES USED for HURRICANES? |
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Definition
1. HURRICANE (ATLANTIC and EASTERN PACIFIC)
2. TYPHOON (WESTERN PACIFIC)
3. CYCLONE (INDIAN OCEAN and AUSTRALIA)
4. BAGUIOS (PHILIPPINES) |
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Term
| How do TROPICAL CYCLONES differ from MID-LAT. CYCLONES? |
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Definition
- they derive their ENERGY from TROPICAL WARM OCEANS and LATENT HEAT OF CONDENSATION.
2. They FORM BETWEEN 5-20 degrees latitude where CORIOLIS FORCE IS STRONG
3. They MOVE WESTWARDS with TRADE WINDS
4. They have COMPACT, CIRCULAR ISOBARS and STEEP PRESSURE GRADIENTS
5. NO DEVELOPMENT at STATIONARY FRONTS
6. Develop an EYE where AIR DESCENDS TO SURFACE
7. Their WINDS are STRONGEST NEAR SURFACE and WEAK ALOFT
8. They WEAKEN when MOVE OVER LAND and COOL OCEAN SURFACES |
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Term
| What is the FORMATION of TROPICAL CYCLONES? |
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Definition
1. BEGINS with the CONVERGENCE and RISING of SURFACE WINDS
-NE and SE TRADE WINDS meet and the CORIOLIS FORCE DEFLECTS
2. DEVELOP a MIGRATORY WAVELIKE DISTURBANCE called an EASTERLY WAVE
-EASTERN SIDE = winds CONVERGE and RISE
-WESTERN SIDE = winds descend to surface |
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Term
| What are the STAGES of HURRICANE DEVELOPMENT? |
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Definition
1. TROPICAL DISTURBANCE: DISORGANIZED groups of thunderstorms with LITTLE/NO ROTATION.
2. TROPICAL DEPRESSION: ORGANIZED groups of thunderstorms with cyclonic speed of LESS THAN 37 MPH
3. TROPICAL STORM: ORGANIZED groups of thunderstorms with cyclonic speed BETWEEN 37-73 MPH
4. HURRICANE: ORGANIZED groups of thunderstorms with cyclonic speeds of AT LEAST 74 MPH. |
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Term
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Definition
A.K.A TROPICAL WAVES
-they are a type of atmospheric TROUGH, an elongated area of LOW AIR PRESSURE that is oriented NORTH>SOUTH and move from EAST>WEST across tropics by EASTERLY WINDS.
-wavelengths on order of 2500KM and travel at 10 and 20 KNOTS |
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Term
| How are HURRICANES STRUCTURED? |
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Definition
MATURE HURRICANES = average of 375 miles across and can reach up to 930 miles in diameter.
**THE EYE: CENTER of hurricane
-broken clouds, clear skies
-calm winds
-descending air
**THE EYE WALL: zone of MOST INTENSE activity
-strongest winds
-towering cumulonimbus clouds
-most intense rainfall |
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Term
| How do they cause DESTRUCTION? |
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Definition
1. wind damage
2. storm area surge in coastal areas
3. inland freshwater flooding |
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Term
| What is the Hurricane damage-potential scale? |
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Definition
Category: Wind Speed: Damage:
1 74-95 mph minimal
2 96-110 mph moderate
3 111-130 mph extensive
4 131-155 mph extreme
5 >155 mph catastrophic |
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