Tropical storms

• Tropical storm formation

  1. requires ocean surface temperature above 27 degrees c
  2. warm area forms above ocean surface
  3. requires a low altitude blowing from different directions
  4. air rises then cools and condenses to form clouds
  5. air carrying moistures creates thick and heavy clouds
  6. condensation releases latent heat energy stored in water vapour to provide power
  7. Coriolis effect causes air to spiral around a centre
  8. storm matures and eye is created
  9. track is driven by global wind circulation
• spaghetti model

  combines information from a variety of predictive models onto one map to create a picture of the hurricanes potential track
• cloud seeding

  creates more precipitation as if tropical storm releases more water over the sea it would weaken the system as it approaches land
• El Nino

  • warming of the sea surface temperature every few years in the central and Eastern Pacific
  • decalared when sea surface temperature rise by 0.5 degrees
  • effect reaches peak in December
  • trade winds blowing east to west are weakened by the tropical weather
  • warm water travels east across the pacific ocean increasing surface temperature
  • causes low pressure and increased rainfall
  • dry air travels west and sinks forming high pressure over Australasia and Asia
  • clearer skies leads to increased temperatures and lack of moisture
  • creates more and stronger storms in the Pacific
• La Nina

  • occurs every 3-5 years
  • strong trade winds blowing east to west decreases sea surface temperature in Eastern Pacific
  • strong trade winds warm and moisten as they travel across the Pacific
  • warm moist air rises
  • causes weaker storms in the Atlantic