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Hot tropical
air moves
towards the
cold poles.
Tropical storms
form between
5and 20 North
& South of the
equator.
They need warm
water ~ above
27c hence their
location.
As the Earth rotates, this provides the spin
needed to start the tropical storm on its
journey across the Atlantic towards America.
17%
11%
8%
11%
33%
20%
Warm Oceans
The food of a tropical
storm is the warm moist
water found near the
equator. The air here is
under LOW pressure, which
means it can lift easily.
This lifting encourages the
air to cool and condense, as
it does latent heat is
released. This is the name
given to energy produced
when a substance changes
state ie vapour to a liquid.
Here is a 3D
image of a
Tropical
revolving
storm. Notice
the lower
level winds
being drawn in
and spiralling
counter
clockwise.
The lines isobars get closer together,
indicating faster flowing air.
Hurricanes are located in the low-pressure belt near the equator as the
sun heats the oceans to a critical temperature of 27C.
The oceans heat up all through the summer making their warmest
temperatures in the Autumn (specific heat capacity); this is Hurricane
season in the Atlantic.
Category
Tropical storm
Tropical
depression
1
2
3
4
Wind
Speed
km/hr
Wind
Speed
Mph
0-62
63-117
119-153
154-177
178-209
210-249
Storm
Surge m
0
0-0.9
74-95
96-110
111-130
131-155
1.2-1.5
1.8-2.4
2.7-3.7
4.0-5.5
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml
high seas - large waves of up to 15 metres high are caused by the strong
winds and are hazardous to shipping;
storm surge - a surge of water of up to several metres can cause extensive
flooding and damage in coastal regions;
heavy rain - the tropical cyclone can pick up two billion tons of moisture
per day and release it as rain. This also leads to extensive flooding - often
well inland from where the tropical revolving storm hit the coast;
tornadoes - tropical cyclones sometimes spawn many tornadoes as they hit
land which can cause small areas of extreme wind damage. These
phenomena can cause major destruction, especially when the tropical
cyclone's path takes it over land. However, a path over land also causes the
destruction of the tropical cyclone itself. As it moves over land, its energy
source is depleted and friction across the land surface distorts the air flow.
This leads to the eye filling with cloud and the tropical cyclone dies.
3D model of a Tropical
Storm
Homework
AQA A2 book Pg 60-63 Read and make notes
Visit these web sites and read around the topic what
else can you add to your notes about tropical
revolving storm formation?
Waugh Pg 235 & Nagle Pg 421+ has extra reading, (pay
particular attention to Places 30 for Stretch &
Challenge!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/understand
ing/hurricane_cycle.shtml
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/tropicalcyclon
e/facts.html
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml