Hurricane Tracking Lab Name: Jose A.

Organista

Part I: Plotting the Track of Hurricane Katrina

On the “Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart” on the next page, plot the position of Hurricane
Katrina from day to day using the latitude and longitude in the chart below. LABEL each plotted
position with the date from the chart below. Connect the points with a line.

1. Did Hurricane Katrina make landfall? If so, when and where? (Include all occurrences).
- The hurricane made landfall in between Mississippi and Louisiana on 08/30.

2. What was the category of the storm when it made landfall?

- Category 3

3. Where was the storm located when it intensified to its strongest category?
- At the gulf of louisiana on 08/28 and 08/29

4. Where was the storm located when it began to dissipate?

- Either in tennessee or Mississippi
Part II: Plotting the Intensity of Hurricane Katrina

Below are two graphs one on top of the other. The top graph is for Air Pressure and the bottom graph
is for wind speed. Both the x and y axes have already been labeled for you. Use the data from the
Hurricane Katrina chart on the first page, and plot the air pressure and wind speed on the appropriate
graphs below.
5. What is the relationship between air pressure and wind speed as shown above in the graph?
- As the air pressure decreases the wind speed begins to increase.

6. What caused the increase in wind speed seen in the graph?

- As the storm got closer to landfall, the wind speed increased.

7. Describe what happened to air pressure and wind speed when the Hurricane Katrina made
landfall.
- The air pressure increased dramatically and the wind speed decreased dramatically.

Part III: Plotting the track of Hurricane Irene

On the “Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart” on the next page, plot the position of Hurricane
Irene from day to day using the latitude and longitude in the chart below. LABEL each plotted position
with the date from the chart below. Connect the points with a line
8. Did Hurricane Irene make landfall? If so, when and where? (Include all occurrences).

- Hurricane Irene made landfall in North Carolina on 08/27.

9. What was the category of the storm when it made landfall?

- Category 1

10. Where was the storm located when it intensified to its strongest category?
- The storm intensified in the carribeans on 08/25. Very close to Cuba.

11. Where was the storm located when it began to dissipate?

- In the northeast corner of the United states. New York or Maine.

Part IV: Final Analysis

12. What general compass direction do the hurricanes you plotted travel initially?
- They travel west initially.

13. As the hurricanes progress, describe how their direction changes.

 - After moving westward they begin to move their way north, straight north.

14. At what latitude do hurricanes appear to change direction? Was this the same for both storms?
- Around 25 degrees longitude. This was the same for both storms.

15. Why did Hurricanes Irene and Katrina follow the tracks they did? What controls the track of a
hurricane?

- I believe that both hurricanes move themselves west until they hit that 25 degrees longitude. I
believe that global winds are what controls the track of a hurricane. The winds will push the
hurricane west ward and also north towards landfall.

16. Why do hurricanes dissipate when they move over land over travel into the midlatitudes?
- When it moves over land, it is cut off from the warm water and moisture that fuels its strength.

17. The category of a storm is one factor that will determine the human impact of a hurricane.
Describe at least 2 other factors that will impact how big the storms impact is on people.
- We also look at wind speeds which causes much property damage.
- Another factor is flood warning or how much water the storm will give off. property is heavily
damaged by floods.