Topic 3-weather and climate

• What are the three names tropical storms are known as?

  Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons
• What are cyclones?

  Tropical storms that begin in the South Pacific or the Indian Ocean
• What are hurricanes?

  Tropical storms that begin in the Atlantic Ocean
• What are typhoons?

  Tropical storms that begin in the north-west Pacific Ocean
• Where do tropical storms generally occur?

  In the tropics between 5° and 30° latitude
• Why are tropical storms confined to the tropics?

  They require certain conditions to form
• In what months do tropical storms form in the northern tropics?

  June to November
• In what months do tropical storms form in the southern tropics?

  November to April
• What direction do tropical storms normally move in?

  Westwards, affected by the prevailing trade winds
• What are the six conditions needed for tropical storms to form?

  1. Warm sea temperatures (at least 26.5° at sea surface)
  2. A lot of water vapour
  3. Low pressure disturbances and smaller storms that can join
  4. Rapidly cooling water vapour leading to cumulonimbus clouds
  5. Warm air rising from the ocean, pulled into a column of clouds
  6. Coriolis effect creating spin
• What are the key features of tropical storms?

  • Very low pressures, high winds, heavy rainfall
• What do tropical storms form around?

  A cylinder of rising, spiraling air surrounding an eye of descending cool air
• What is the eye of a storm?

  A region of clear skies where cool air is descending
• What is an eye wall?

  Cloud banks that surround the eye
• Where are the strongest winds found in a tropical storm?

  In the eye wall
• How far can tropical storms form?

  Hundreds of kilometers in width
• What do tropical storms require for formation?

  A source of warm, moist air and warm ocean temperatures
• How does warm ocean water contribute to tropical storm formation?

  It causes water to evaporate, leading to cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms
• What happens when warm air rises rapidly from oceans?

  It leads to the formation of thunderstorms
• What occurs when air converges in a tropical storm?

  An area of low pressure forms
• What happens to air as it rises and spins in a tropical storm?


  It accelerates in speed
• How does faster wind speed affect the pressure at the center of a tropical storm?

  Faster wind speed results in lower pressure at the center, leading to a stronger hurricane
• What happens when rising air cools and condenses in a tropical storm?

  More cumulonimbus clouds form, bringing rain, thunder, and lightning
• What are the effects of climate change on tropical storms?

  • Affects distribution
  • Affects frequency
  • Affects intensity
• How does climate change affect the frequency and intensity of tropical storms?

  Global warming increases storm intensity and higher wind speeds, making tropical storms more destructive
• How is the distribution of tropical storms impacted by climate change?

  More storms occur outside the current distribution