Tropical storms

• What type of weather systems are tropical storms?

  Low pressure weather systems
• What does low pressure mean in the context of tropical storms?

  Warm air rises
• What are the three names for the same weather phenomenon based on location?

  Hurricane, typhoon, cyclone
• Where are hurricanes formed?

  Northeast Pacific and North Atlantic
• Where are cyclones formed?

  South Pacific and Indian Ocean
• Where are typhoons formed?

  Northwest Pacific
• What are the three conditions needed for a tropical storm to form?

  1. Between 5 and 30 degrees latitude
  2. Sea temperatures at least 27 degrees Celsius
  3. Low wind shear
• Why must sea temperatures be at least 27 degrees Celsius for tropical storms?

  Heat fuels the storm
• What is wind shear?

  Difference in wind speed
• How do tropical storms develop?

  1. Warm surface water evaporates
  2. Rising air condenses into clouds
  3. Energy release fuels the storm
  4. Low pressure creates strong surface winds
  5. Coriolis force causes storm to spin
• What happens to a tropical storm when it moves over land or cool water?

  It loses strength
• What is the center of a tropical storm called?

  • The eye
  • Up to 50 kilometers across
  • Caused by descending air
• What are the conditions in the eye of a tropical storm?

  Very low pressure, light winds, no clouds
• What surrounds the eye of a tropical storm?

  The eye wall
• What are the features of the eye wall of a tropical storm?

  • Spiraling rising air
  • Very strong winds
  • Storm clouds and torrential rain
• What happens to wind speeds and rain as you move towards the outer skirts of a tropical storm?

  Wind speeds fall and rain becomes less intensive
• How might climate change affect tropical storms?

  • Frequency: Longer periods for storms to form
  • Distribution: More areas above 27 degrees Celsius
  • Intensity: Higher sea temperatures lead to stronger storms
• What are the three ways to reduce the effects of tropical storms?

  1. Prediction and monitoring
  2. Planning
  3. Protection
• How can storms be predicted?

  Using radar and satellites
• What planning can be done to mitigate tropical storm effects?

  Avoiding developments in low-lying areas
• What can be built along rivers for protection against tropical storms?

  Flood defenses
• What is the minimum sea temperature for tropical storm formation?

  27 degrees Celsius
• What is the latitude range for tropical storm formation?

  5 to 30 degrees north and south
• What is the role of the Coriolis force in tropical storms?

  • Causes winds to move in specific directions
  • Influences the storm's spin