Tropical Storms

• Where do tropical storms form?

  They form 5-15 degrees N and S of the equator, where ocean temperatures are 27C and above, the Coriolis effect of the Earth's rotation is very high, and where intense heat and humidity makes the air unstable.
• What was Typhoon Haiyan?

  A powerful, category 5 tropical storm that hit the Philippines in 2013.
• What were the primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

  • 6300 killed
  • Over 600,000 displaced
  • 40,000 homes destroyed or damaged
  • Over 400mm of rain caused widespread flooding.
• How many people were affected during Typhoon Haiyan?

  14 million affected.
• How many homes were destroyed / damaged during Typhoon Haiyan?

  40,000 homes destroyed or damaged.
• What caused widespread flooding after Typhoon Haiyan?

  Over 400mm of rainfall.
• How many people lost their jobs after Haiyan?

  6 million.
• What were the secondary effects of Typhoon Haiyan?

  • 14 million affected - including 6 million that lost their jobs.
  • Flooding caused landslides - restricting access for aid workers.
  • Shortages of food, power, water, and shelter lead to outbreaks of disease.
• What lead to an outbreak of disease after Haiyan?

  Shortages of power, food, water, and shelter lead to an outbreak of disease.
• What did widespread flooding consequently cause?

  Widespread flooding cuased landslides - blocking roads and restricting access of aid workers, ultimately delaying treatment and support.
• What were the immediate responses after Typhoon Haiyan?

  • Rapid overseas aid - including NGO's.
  • Over 1200 evacuation centres set up.
  • US helicopters assisted in search and rescue, and delivery of aid.
  • Field hospitals helped injured.
• How did the US help after Haiyan?

  The US sent helicopters to help with search and rescue and assist with delivering aid, increaing rate of recovery.
• How many evacuation centres were set up after Haiyan?

  1200 evacuation centres.
• What were the long-term responses to Typhoon Haiyan?

  • Rice farming and fishing rapidly re-established
  • Homes rebuilt in safer areas
  • Reconstruction of infrastructure
  • UN and international financial aid, supplies, and medical support.
  • More cyclone shelters built
• What long-term aid did the Philippines recieve after Haiyan?

  UN and international financial aid, supplies, and medical support.
• How was safety reinforced after Haiyan?

  Homes were rebuilt in safer areas, more cylone shelters were built
• How do tropical storms form?

  • Rising air draws evaporated water vapour up from ocean surface which cools and condenses to form towering thunderstorm clouds.
  • Condensing releases heat energy which powers the storm, t also draws more water vapour up from the oceans surface.
  • Multiple thunderstorm clouds join to form a giant, rotating storm.
  • The Coroilis effect spins the storm at 75mph, creating a cloud spiral with a calm central eye where air descends rapidly.
• How do tropical storms travel and eventually die out?

  • Prevailing winds drift the storm over the oceans surface, gathering strength as it picks up more heat energy.
  • When it's reached the land, the storm loses its energy supply (evaporated water) and it weakens.
• What is the energy supply of a tropical storm?

  Evaporating water vapour powers tropical storms, its drawn up by rising air from the oceans surface.
• What is the central eye of a tropical storm?

  The central eye is the centre of a tropical storm. It's a small area where relatively cold air sinks towards the ground and warms up. There are no clouds and conditions are calm.
• What is the eye wall of a tropical storm?

  The eye wall is a tall bank of cloud on either side of the storm eye, here, there are winds of strong excess of 120km/h, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.
• What is beyond the eye wall of a tropical storm?

  There are further banks of clouds with thunderstorms and occasionally tornadoes, there will be strong gusts of wind and heavy rain.
• What are the conditions of the eye wall?

  Strong winds in excess of 120km/h, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.
• What are the conditions at the central eye.

  Calm, relatively cold wind sinks towards ground and warms up
• What are some pieces of evidence that support the idea that climate change will affect tropical storms?

  • Over last few decades, sea surface temperatures in the tropics have increased by 0.25C-0.5C.
  • In the North Atlantic, hurricane intensity in the last 20 years has risen.
• Tropical Storm - a huge storm which forms 5-15 degrees north and south of the equator. They form in the late summer and autumn where ocean temperatures are 27C and above and there is high humidity making air unstable.
• Will climate change affect tropical storms?

  Due to global warming, a rise in sea temperatures could cause tropical storms to extend further north and south. This increased temperature could lead to more powerful storms in the future; however there is no evidence that proves storm numbers are increasing.
• How will climate change affect tropical storms?

  Global warming -> higher ocean temperatures -> more (powerful) tropical storms; possibly extending further north and south.
• What does MPPP stand for?

  Monitoring, prediction, protection, planning
• How can tropical storms be monitored/predicted?

  Satellite tracking: allows prediction mapping so that warnings can be issued; National Hurricane Centre US sends out two-scale warning system of Hurricane Watch and Hurricane Warning.
• What is an example of monitoring/predicting tropical storms?

  National Hurricane Centre in the US - sends out a two-scale warning system of Hurricane Watch and Hurricane Warning
• What is used to track tropical storms?

  Monitored using satellite tracking which allows prediction mapping so that warnings can be issued.
• How can people be protected from tropical storms?

  Building designs can offer protection for people livin in areas at risk of tropical storms, for example reinforced walls/roofs, window shutters, storm drains and sea walls
• What can be used to protect agaisnt typhoons?

  Building designs: reinfored walls/roofs; window shutters; sea wall; storm drains.
• What protects against typhoons?

  Building Designs
• How can people plan for tropical storms?

  Preparedness. Not everyone can be evacuated at once especially since millions of people are living near the coast but areas can be made safer, e.g education programmes on social media and in schools to raise awareness and for people to know what to do and understand the dangers.
• Why is planning ahead of a tropical storm important?

  Not everyone can be evacuated at once if a tropical storm hits the coast, there would be thousands of casualties and incredible losses that would have been preventable.
• Preparedness - planning for the event
• What's used to plan ahead of tropical storms?

  Education programmes through schools and social media to raise awareness for people to know what to do and undertsand the dangers.
• What's used when planning ahead of tropical storms?

  Lots of education programmes used to spread awareness and ensure the safety of civilians