Tropical storms
- Created by: itsnicole
- Created on: 26-11-16 15:08
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- Tropical Storms
- Features
- The eye is a period of calm in the centre - strongests wind speeds are in the eye wall
- Low air pressure
- Strong winds/high wind speeds
- Spiral/vortex
- Torrential rain
- Turn clockwise in the southern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere
- Size can be up to 300 miles wide
- Form out at sea
- Extremely thick bands of cloud
- North America and the Caribbean: hurricanes Western Pacific Ocean: cyclones Indian Ocean: typhoons
- Formation
- 1) When the Earth tilts at 23.5 degrees the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer and it heats the ocean
- 2) The ocean gets heated to 27+ degrees at a depth of 50m
- 3) The air above the ocean is heated and it rises
- 4) As the air rises, it cools
- 5) The air then condenses to form storm clouds
- 6)The Earth's rotation causes the storm to turn into a vortex
- 7) The rising air creates low air pressure so air from the surrounding areas is forced to rush inwards
- 8) Air descends in the centre of the tropical storm, forming the eye
- 9) It is now a fully developed tropical storm
- 10) Once it is over land, it is separated from its power source and it loses power after a few days
- Storm Surges
- As the hurricane moves along, wind pushes the water up towards the land
- Makes up 95% of the storm surge
- Other 5% is created when low air pressure causes air to rise, creating a partial vacuum which pulls the water up again
- The water is high enough to go over barriers and cause floods
- Other 5% is created when low air pressure causes air to rise, creating a partial vacuum which pulls the water up again
- Makes up 95% of the storm surge
- As the hurricane moves along, wind pushes the water up towards the land
- Wind Strengths
- 74-95mph = category 1: no real damage to structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery and trees. Some coastal flooding and minor pier damage.
- 96-110mph = category 2: Some roofing material, door and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation and mobile homes. Floods damage piers and small craft in unprotected moorings might break moorings.
- 111-130mph = category 3: Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings. Minor amount of curtainwall failures. Mobile homes destoryed. Flooding near coast destorys small structures; large structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain might be flooded well inland.
- 131-155mph = category 4: Extensive cutainwall failure with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain might be flooded far inland.
- 155+mph = category 5: Complete roof failure on a lot of residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failure with small utility buildings blown over or away. Floods cause major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas could be required.
- Features
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