Tropical storms
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- Created by: Evie :)
- Created on: 06-12-21 15:06
What is a tropical storm
Intense low pressure weather systems which develop in the tropics and measure 200-700 km in diameter
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Where is the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn?
Cancer- northern hemisphere
Capricorn- southern hemisphere
Capricorn- southern hemisphere
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Where are storms known as 'Hurricanes'?
Atlantic ocean
11% in Caribbean/ Gulf of Mexico
17% in Western central America
11% in Caribbean/ Gulf of Mexico
17% in Western central America
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Where are tropical storms known as 'cyclones'?
Arabian sea/ Bay of Bengal- 8%
Madagascar coast- 11%
Madagascar coast- 11%
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Where are tropical storms known as typhoons?
South East Asia- 33%
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Where are tropical storms know as willy willies?
North east and north west Australian coast- 20%
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why are tropical storms important?
They are a vital component in redistributing heat across the world ( earth is naturally warmer near equator and cooler at the poles)
Global weather systems attempt to move the heat towards poles, if not weather conditions wud be diff
Global weather systems attempt to move the heat towards poles, if not weather conditions wud be diff
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What conditions are required for tropical storms?
Uniform wind directions, as winds from different directions can stop the storm gaining height and intensity
Atmosphere instability( low pressure)- when warm air is forced to rise
Atmosphere instability( low pressure)- when warm air is forced to rise
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What conditions are required for tropical storms?
Warm tropical ocean water (26/27 degrees+) at the surface
Water depth of at least 70m
Location at least 5 degrees N/S for the coriolis force to generate spin
Water depth of at least 70m
Location at least 5 degrees N/S for the coriolis force to generate spin
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Tropical storm formation step 1
Once a storm starts to form it develops a defined rotation (spin)
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Formation step 2
Warm moist air rises rapidly at the centre
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Formation step 3
A central vortex develops as more and more air is drawn in and rises
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Formation step 4
- The centre of the storm sees a column of cold, dry sinking air forming
- As air rises it rapidly cools forming towering comulonimbus clouds
- It continues to grow and gain energy from the ocean until it hits land
- As air rises it rapidly cools forming towering comulonimbus clouds
- It continues to grow and gain energy from the ocean until it hits land
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Visual characteristics of a tropical storm
- There is a degree of symmetry around the central point
- separate bands of rainfall around the 'eye wall', which is where the most powerful and damaging part of the storm is
- The storm is relatively calm in the centre
- separate bands of rainfall around the 'eye wall', which is where the most powerful and damaging part of the storm is
- The storm is relatively calm in the centre
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What factors depend on how much people are impacted by storms
- Intensity of the storm
- Physical geography of the coastal area
- The speed of movement
- Preparations made by the community
- Distance from the sea
- warnings given to the population
- Physical geography of the coastal area
- The speed of movement
- Preparations made by the community
- Distance from the sea
- warnings given to the population
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What are the primary impacts of TS's?
Strong winds
Heavy rainfall
Storm surges
Heavy rainfall
Storm surges
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Causes/ facts about strong winds
Winds are typically above 120km/h (75mph), but cab get as high as 250km/h in high category storms
They can cause extensive damage to buildings, roads and infrastructure
It can result in debris being flung around, creating flying missiles and they can be t
They can cause extensive damage to buildings, roads and infrastructure
It can result in debris being flung around, creating flying missiles and they can be t
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Causes/ facts about heavy rainfall
Rainfall can exceed 200/300mm
If there is high relief near the coast where the storm hits, rainfall could increase to over 500mm per day
If there is high relief near the coast where the storm hits, rainfall could increase to over 500mm per day
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Causes/ facts about storm surges
Largest recorded- 7.6km (Hurricane Katrina)
Intense, low pressure within the storm results in a less downward force pressing down on the ocean, which allows sea levels to rise vertically
Strong winds move the surge towards the coastline/Damage to build/ e
Intense, low pressure within the storm results in a less downward force pressing down on the ocean, which allows sea levels to rise vertically
Strong winds move the surge towards the coastline/Damage to build/ e
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What are the secondary hazards of TS's?
Flooding
Landslides
Landslides
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Causes/ impacts of flooding
The quantity of rain a tropical storm can generate triggers flash flooding, especially near the coast
Urban drainage systems with drains, impermeable surfaces and high density of buildings makes flooding worse and causes flash in urban areas
Urban drainage systems with drains, impermeable surfaces and high density of buildings makes flooding worse and causes flash in urban areas
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Causes/ impacts of landslides
- 90% of all lanslides are triggered by heavy rainfall, usually after a TS
- Regions with steep topography and also intense rainfall means that hydrostatic pressure increases within a slope and weakens cohersion, causing the slope to fail
Lslides can trig
- Regions with steep topography and also intense rainfall means that hydrostatic pressure increases within a slope and weakens cohersion, causing the slope to fail
Lslides can trig
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What do the categories of the Saffir-Simpson scale suggest
1- Wind speeds 74-95mph/ Damage to power lines/ communication issues/ Several days of power outages
5- 157mph +/ Most framed homes are destroyed/ Places are uninhabitable weeks- months
5- 157mph +/ Most framed homes are destroyed/ Places are uninhabitable weeks- months
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How many category 5 hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic in the last century?
How many were just in 2005?
How many were just in 2005?
35
4 (Katrina)
4 (Katrina)
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Is the Saffir Simpson scale totally useful
It only takes into consideration the sustained wind speeds experienced/ It doesn't asses primary or secondary impacts( storm surge/ rainfall)
Factors should be considered such as population of a country being hit
Factors should be considered such as population of a country being hit
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How can tropical storms be predicted
Locations where they occur are known and the seasons when also are/ estimate
weather aircraft- Used to monitor formation
weather aircraft- Used to monitor formation
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More prediction methods
Computer models- Using previous hurricane data can attempt to model likely paths storms may take(tracks can be erratic)
Warnings cant be given 12-18 hiurs in advance , so it is hard to get the message to everyone
Warnings cant be given 12-18 hiurs in advance , so it is hard to get the message to everyone
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Prevention methods of tropical storms
Cloud seeding- Dropping silver iodide particles into the hurricanes eye wall. The seeds cause precipitation to occur at sea before it hits land, so the system is weakened
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Protection methods of Tropical storms
Evacuation- People are advised to leave homes asap/ security services stay to protect homes from looting
Education- Hurricane drills are precticed in schoold (Florida)/ 'Project Safeside' is run in schools
Education- Hurricane drills are precticed in schoold (Florida)/ 'Project Safeside' is run in schools
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More protection methods
Hard and soft engineering- Sea walls/ flood barriers can be installed at coastal locations
Building construction- Design buildings to be more wild resistant/ On stilts to protect from flood water
Building construction- Design buildings to be more wild resistant/ On stilts to protect from flood water
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Where is the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn?
Back
Cancer- northern hemisphere
Capricorn- southern hemisphere
Capricorn- southern hemisphere
Card 3
Front
Where are storms known as 'Hurricanes'?
Back
Card 4
Front
Where are tropical storms known as 'cyclones'?
Back
Card 5
Front
Where are tropical storms known as typhoons?
Back
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