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Nature of Storms C13
Nature of Storms C13
Hurricane Fran
2. usually form in regions of trade winds between 20 oN and
20oS latitudes where water is very warm; originate along
ITCZ
a. as long as it remains over water, warm moist air will rise
providing energy
b. as water evaporates from ocean surface, latent heat is
stored
c. latent heat is released when air begins to rise and water
vapor condenses into clouds & rain
d. rising air creates area of low pressure at ocean surface
e. wind speed increases & air pressure decreases as storm
develops
f. move according to wind currents that steer them
g. last until it can no longer produce enough energy to
sustain itself
1) usually happens when moves over land
3. stages:
a. tropical wave = disturbance from ITCZ or as weak, low
pressure system
b. tropical depression = acquires cyclonic circulation round
center of low pressure
c. tropical storm = when winds speeds around low pressure
center of tropical depression
d. hurricane = air pressure continues to fall, winds around
center reach at least 120 km/h (75 mph)
4. characteristics:
a. eye forms at center
1) central area of sinking air
2) usually 15 to 50 km in
diameter (9-30 miles)
3) no rain, very calm - almost no wind
b. eye wall = area where highest/strongest winds are
located
1) completely surrounds eye
2) area of intense thunderstorms
3) when it hits land locations to right side of storm
receives worst damage
c. storms average diameters
of 300- 600 km (180- 360 miles)
Hurricane Katrina
eyewall
5. damage caused
a. high winds, tornadoes, heavy rains, high waves, and
flooding
b. storm surge = quickly rising ocean water levels that
cause widespread flooding
1) piles up water along shore and then blows it inland
2) causes the greatest damage of storm
3) more severe during high tide
4) can be from 4 to 20 feet or more
5) in Northern Hemisphere, occurs primarily on right side
of storm; strongest onshore winds occur
6. rated on Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale
a. uses barometric pressure in inches, wind speeds in mph,
and potential for property damage
b. gives an estimate of storm surge in feet
c. Category 1: minimum wind speeds of 74 mph
d. Category 5: winds in excess of 155 mph
e. Category 3: considered to be a major hurricane
7. storm is named when its winds reach 39 mph
(tropical storm)
a. women’s names were used from 1953 to 1978
b. in 1979 men’s names were added as well as names from
other languages
c. countries affected by storms suggest names
d. names are on a six year cycle
e. when one causes great damage its name is retired from
the six - year cycle
Ex: Alicia, 1983; Hugo, 1989
wave cyclones = large storms that develops along cold or
stationary fronts
1. low-pressure centers
2. wind spiral in toward central region
3. usually lasts several days
4. in North America move in easterly
direction about 32 to 64 km/hr
5. spin counterclockwise