reading assignment ch.11 #1

______ km/hr is the minimum wind speed needed for hurricane classification because it is the speed at which incoming winds do not reach the eye of the storm. 119 67 54 85

119

The average hurricane generates energy at a rate that is ______ times greater than our worldwide capacity to generate electricity. 50 5 2 200

200

Hurricanes are called major hurricanes if they are at least a category ______ on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 4 2 5 3

3

How did Hurricane Irene cause most of the deaths attributed to it? Freezing due to power outages Wind blowing down trees and inland flooding Storm surge Tornadoes

Wind blowing down trees and inland flooding

Most of the damage from Hurricane Sandy was caused directly by ______. high winds lighting strikes storm surge tornadoes

storm surge

As stronger winds cause waves to grow larger, the amount of energy lost to ______ increases as the wind moves over the ocean. evaporation adiabatic warming the Coriolis effect friction

friction

Order the stages involved in forming a hurricane. (Place the first step at the top.) Instructions -surface winds blowing into the center stop reaching the center, and sustained winds exceed 119 km/ht (74mph) -a tropical disturbance forms from a low-pressure zone with a cluster of thunderstorms -a tropical storm forms as converging winds spiral up the core wall, and sustained surface-winds speeds exceed 63 km/hr (39 mph) -a tropical depression forms as surface winds strengthen and flow around and into the center of the storm

-a tropical disturbance forms from a low-pressure zone with a cluster of thunderstorms -a tropical depression forms as surface winds strengthen and flow around and into the center of the storm -a tropical storm forms as converging winds spiral up the core wall, and sustained surface-winds speeds exceed 63 km/hr (39 mph) -surface winds blowing into the center stop reaching the center, and sustained winds exceed 119 km/ht (74mph)

Match the weather system to its description. ___ tropical disturbance ___ tropical depression ___ tropical storm ___ hurricane 1. it is a low-pressure zone with a poorly organized cluster of thunderstorms 2. this system has surface-wind speeds that exceed 63 km/hr (39 mph) with converging winds spiraling up the core wall; wind speeds are less than 119 km/hr (74 mph) 3. it is a system with surface-wind speeds that exceed 119 km/hr (74 mph). Surface winds do not reach the center 4. it is a system with surface winds flowing around and into the center; wind speeds are less than 63 km/hr (39 mph)

1 4 2 3

How does the inward drop in air pressure cause heat to be added to a hurricane that is over the ocean? More sunlight is able to pass through the air when it is under lower pressure, allowing more heating of the ocean's surface. It raises the energy input need to cause evaporation, thereby causing the storage of more latent heat. Air flowing inward cools adiabatically, allowing it to bring up additional heat from the warm ocean below. Air flowing inward warms adiabatically, causing additional heat to be added to the storm.

Air flowing inward cools adiabatically, allowing it to bring up additional heat from the warm ocean below.

Which of the following distinguish hurricanes from storms formed at higher latitudes? Air in the center is warmer and descending. They do not weaken when they move over land. They are not associated with fronts. They can become stronger when high-altitude winds are weaker. Latent heat released by the condensation of water vapor is the main energy source.

Air in the center is warmer and descending. They are not associated with fronts. They can become stronger when high-altitude winds are weaker. Latent heat released by the condensation of water vapor is the main energy source.

Select all the conditions listed below that are ideal for hurricane formation. Air must be warm, humid, and unstable enough to sustain convection. Upper-level winds are weak and blowing in the same direction as the storm. Seawater should be at least 27°C (80°F) in the upper 60 m (200 ft) of the ocean. Wave height on the ocean should be below 1.1 m (3.6 ft). The storm forms within 250 km (155 mi) of the equator.

Air must be warm, humid, and unstable enough to sustain convection. Upper-level winds are weak and blowing in the same direction as the storm. Seawater should be at least 27°C (80°F) in the upper 60 m (200 ft) of the ocean.

Hurricane ____ was the third most deadly hurricane in US history. Most of the damage occurred in Florida from strong winds that destroyed homes during this August 1992 natural disaster.

Andrew

In August 1992, Hurricane ______ began as a Cape Verde-type hurricane by moving off the western coast of Africa as a thunderstorm. It caused a wide path of destruction in the northern Bahamas, southern Florida, and the Gulf Coast. Andrew David Foster George

Andrew

What factors listed below are thought to increase the number of hurricanes that form in any one hurricane season? Greater wetness in the western Sahel Region of Africa because a wetter surface provides more nuclei for hurricanes Warmer sea-surface temperatures, since they provide the needed energy to grow tropical depressions The presence of a strong El Niño in the eastern Pacific High atmospheric pressure in the Caribbean to allow more time for storm development in the eastern Atlantic Ocean

Greater wetness in the western Sahel Region of Africa because a wetter surface provides more nuclei for hurricanes Warmer sea-surface temperatures, since they provide the needed energy to grow tropical depressions

______ are elongate, north-south oriented disturbances in the trade winds that are known to sometimes result in the formation of Cape Verde-type hurricanes. Westerly swells Southern ridges Tropical ripples Easterly waves

Easterly waves

Which of the following are known to strongly influence the path of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean? Solar flares and geomagnetic storms Existing high- and low-pressure systems they encounter The changing strength of the Coriolis effect with latitude The trade winds Tides

Existing high- and low-pressure systems they encounter The changing strength of the Coriolis effect with latitude The trade winds

Where are tornadoes most likely to form in a hurricane? Within the eye of the storm, when it is over land In the front-right quadrant, 80 to 500 km (50 to 300 mi) from the eye Just outside the eye of the storm, when it is over the ocean In the back-left quadrant, 50 to 100 km (31 to 62 mi) from the eye

In the front-right quadrant, 80 to 500 km (50 to 300 mi) from the eye

Which of the following are true about the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index? No year since the year 2001 has had a hurricane season with an ACE index in the top 10. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 released more energy than is generated in some entire hurricane seasons. A cyclone's energy is calculated after it weakens to a depression by studying the damage it did. The ACE is a measure of the total energy output of a hurricane. The total energy released by each hurricane in a season is complied.

Hurricane Ivan in 2004 released more energy than is generated in some entire hurricane seasons. The ACE is a measure of the total energy output of a hurricane. The total energy released by each hurricane in a season is complied.

______ live for a few days, have individual characteristics and personalities, and are therefore named after humans. Earthquakes Thunderstorms Tornadoes Hurricanes

Hurricanes

Which of the following are true about the hurricane season in the Atlantic and U.S. Gulf coast? Hurricanes will form when sea-surface temperatures are at their warmest. Hurricanes and/or their weaker forms (e.g., tropical storms) form every year. Hurricanes cause the most deaths in the United States in April. Most of the hurricanes that form will be category 4 or 5.

Hurricanes will form when sea-surface temperatures are at their warmest. Hurricanes and/or their weaker forms (e.g., tropical storms) form every year.

Which of the following are accurate about the naming of hurricanes in the North Atlantic basin? If more than 21 named storms occur in a year, the rest are named after letters in the Greek alphabet. Hurricanes are currently named using both typically male and typically female names. When a hurricane is particularly deadly or destructive, the name is never used again. They are named after the nearest town when they first become hurricanes. Hurricanes were first named in 1883.

If more than 21 named storms occur in a year, the rest are named after letters in the Greek alphabet. Hurricanes are currently named using both typically male and typically female names. When a hurricane is particularly deadly or destructive, the name is never used again.

Why does the breaking of windows normally precede the removal of a roof by a hurricane? It causes a pressure drop in the house, which results in an implosion. It allows the wind to tear up the house on the inside and lift the roof off. Rain driven inside the house weakens the structural integrity of the roof. Glass entrained in the wind cuts the straps that hold down the roof.

It allows the wind to tear up the house on the inside and lift the roof off.

Which of the following would be typical for a hurricane in the North Atlantic-Caribbean-Gulf of Mexico region? It forms in the early spring. It forms in the late summer. It is large and lasts from 1 to 30 days. The hurricane moves in an eastward direction before turning south and then to the west. The hurricane has an eye diameter of 1000 km (621 miles) or greater.

It forms in the late summer. It is large and lasts from 1 to 30 days.

What happens at wind speeds of about 119 km/hr (74 mph) that makes that speed the minimum for hurricane classification? Winds blowing faster than 119 km/hr (74) are no longer affected by the Coriolis effect. It is the speed at which the doppler radar signature of a hurricane first includes the color red. It is the speed at which the winds coming into the hurricane fail to reach the center of the storm, resulting in a calmer and clearer eye. It is the speed at which the rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of precipitation at the ocean-atmosphere interface.

It is the speed at which the winds coming into the hurricane fail to reach the center of the storm, resulting in a calmer and clearer eye.

Which of the following accurately describe the eyewall of a hurricane? It typically contains almost no rain. It typically contains the highest wind speeds. The air in the eyewall is adiabatically warming as it changes altitude. Winds in it are spiraling upward.

It typically contains the highest wind speeds. Winds in it are spiraling upward.

Which of the following hurricane characteristics favor the formation of tornadoes? Moving forward at speeds greater than 35 km/hr Large, intense, and strongly curving winds Occurring over warm water Interacting with old, weakened fronts

Large, intense, and strongly curving winds Interacting with old, weakened fronts

What changes began in 1979 regarding the naming of hurricanes in the North Atlantic Basin? Only names commonly used for both genders were considered. Male names were used in addition to female names. Human names were used for the first time. Hurricanes were no longer given last names.

Male names were used in addition to female names.

Hurricane ____ dumped a tremendous amount of rain in Central America in October 1998, causing not only flooding but also deadly mudflows.

Mitch

Hurricane ______ started as a tropical depression on 22 October 1998 and grew to become one of the strongest category 5 hurricanes on record. It caused a lot of destruction in Honduras and Nicaragua by the ______ it brought. Mitch; heavy rains Casey; storm surge John; tornadoes Marco; high winds

Mitch; heavy rains

How does the formation of an easterly wave lead to the development of a Cape Verde-type hurricane? The easterly wave halts the upwelling of cold water, allowing surface waters to become warm enough to form hurricanes. The rate of thunderstorm formation increases on the western side of the wave axis, allowing a collection of them to form into a tropical depression. On the eastern side of the wave axis, low pressure can cause the formation of a tropical disturbance that grows as it moves west. As the easterly wave is moved to higher latitudes, the Coriolis effect starts to spin the axis of the wave until a hurricane is formed.

On the eastern side of the wave axis, low pressure can cause the formation of a tropical disturbance that grows as it moves west.

When the Bermuda High is at its smallest, what path shown in the figure is a hurricane most likely to follow? (Assume all other factors are equal). Path b Path c Path a

Path a

What causes the most hurricane-related deaths? Low pressure in the eye Mass-wasting events caused by the wind Poorly constructed buildings The impact of high winds on the body

Poorly constructed buildings

Barometric pressure, wind speed, storm surge, and storm damage are all used to classify hurricanes on the ______ scale. Hartnell-Baker modified Fujita Saffir-Simpson latent transport

Saffir-Simpson

What happens to the people who ignore warnings to evacuate from the projected path of a hurricane? They always die. Sometimes they die in the storm. No deaths have been recorded among those ignoring hurricane warnings.

Sometimes they die in the storm.

What is the position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in January that results in a shutting down of Caribbean-type hurricane formation? North of the equator At the equator South of the equator

South of the equator

Which of the following are common hazards associated with hurricanes? Storm surges Tornadoes Inland flooding from heavy rains Freezing temperatures Tsunami

Storm surges Tornadoes Inland flooding from heavy rains

Which of the following accurately describe the flow of energy in a hurricane? Surface winds converging on the eyewall pick up additional heat from the ocean. Air flowing outward from the top of a hurricane loses heat via long-wavelength radiation. Upon reaching the eyewall, the air rises rapidly, cools, and releases latent heat of condensation that adds to buoyancy and upward velocity. Rising air cools, and the condensation of water vapor absorbs latent heat.

Surface winds converging on the eyewall pick up additional heat from the ocean. Air flowing outward from the top of a hurricane loses heat via long-wavelength radiation. Upon reaching the eyewall, the air rises rapidly, cools, and releases latent heat of condensation that adds to buoyancy and upward velocity.

Hurricanes in the Atlantic basin seem to have decades-long patterns of activity. Which long-term pattern below seems to be linked to this? La Niña The Atlantic Mulidecadal Oscillation The 11-year sunspot cycle El Niño

The Atlantic Mulidecadal Oscillation

What group is responsible for tracking and forecasting hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin? The National Academy of Sciences Joint Typhoon Warning Center The International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences The National Hurricane Center U.S. Coast Guard

The National Hurricane Center

Why are there often clear skies around a hurricane? Evaporation of water halts in the regions around a hurricane as the storm stops most of the sunlight from reaching the ocean surface. Clouds from surrounding storm get pulled into the hurricane, thereby clearing out the atmosphere around it. Cold air is pushed out of hurricanes at mid-levels, and that moves clouds away from the boundaries of the storm. The air diverging out of the top of the hurricane warms adiabatically as it sinks and evaporates clouds on its way down.

The air diverging out of the top of the hurricane warms adiabatically as it sinks and evaporates clouds on its way down.

Which of the following are true about hurricanes and the energy involved with them? The net flow of energy is from the hurricane to the ocean. Hurricanes transfer energy from higher to lower latitudes. The energy released by forming clouds and rain is greater than the energy of the winds. The kinetic energy of the winds is about half of our global electrical capacity.

The energy released by forming clouds and rain is greater than the energy of the winds. The kinetic energy of the winds is about half of our global electrical capacity.

Where does the latent heat that fuels the formation of hurricanes come from? The adiabatic warming of air that descends when upper-level winds weaken The adiabatic cooling of dry ascending air in the center of the forming storm The evaporation of warm sea-surface waters (27°C = 80°F) The evaporation of cold water (10°C = 50°F) molecules ejected out of the top of thunderstorms

The evaporation of warm sea-surface waters (27°C = 80°F)

What is the hazard posed by small (150 m) twisting vortices being pulled into the eyewall of a hurricane? The side of vortices spinning in the same direction as the eyewall will blow even faster, as the eyewall wind speed is added to its own. The vortice can separate the eye from the hurricane and cause a tornado to form in its place. They are pushed downward by the eyewall, causing strong downbursts. They can become trapped within the otherwise calm eye and form into tornadoes.

The side of vortices spinning in the same direction as the eyewall will blow even faster, as the eyewall wind speed is added to its own.

Which of the following accurately describe the structure of hurricanes? They are single, uniform convective storms. They are composed of numerous thunderstorm bands that move in rotating spirals around a center. Rainfall is evenly distributed across hurricanes. They have convergent wind flow at low levels, rising convective clouds, and divergent winds at upper levels. They have a general surface-wind flow pattern of air moving out from a center of high pressure.

They are composed of numerous thunderstorm bands that move in rotating spirals around a center. They have convergent wind flow at low levels, rising convective clouds, and divergent winds at upper levels.

Which of the following accurately describe hurricanes? They are huge tropical cyclones. They are fueled by high pressure. Despite their size, they are generally weak storms. They can generate winds of more than 240 km/hr (150 mph).

They are huge tropical cyclones. They can generate winds of more than 240 km/hr (150 mph).

Which of the following statements is true about hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons? They represent different stages of development of the same storm, with hurricanes being the most powerful and cyclones being the least powerful. They are fundamentally different storms, although they are all large and powerful. They are the same basic storm but are called by other names in different parts of the world. They are all large low-pressure systems, but they are differentiated by the latitude at which they form.

They are the same basic storm but are called by other names in different parts of the world.

Which of the following describes the proper use of elevators during natural disasters? They make perfect storm shelters, since they are well reinforced. They should be used to escape water-related hazards but avoided in wind-related hazards. They can become death traps, and it is best to avoid them.

They can become death traps, and it is best to avoid them.

How do Cape Verde-type hurricanes form? They form from easterly waves, which are north-south oriented disturbances that develop within the trade winds. They form when loops in the subtropical jet stream get cut off from the rest of the jet and descend to the surface. They develop from tornadoes that spin off the west coast of Africa and grow in size as surface friction is reduced. They form from preexisting convective storms near the islands off northwest Africa.

They form from easterly waves, which are north-south oriented disturbances that develop within the trade winds. They form from preexisting convective storms near the islands off northwest Africa.

Which of the following best describes the forecasting of hurricanes by the National Hurricane Center? They have greatly improved hurricane forecasting, and that has saved thousand of lives by permitting timely evacuations. Their forecasts have proved accurate enough to stage relief workers and supplies but not good enough for evacuations to be ordered. They have have not had much luck in forecasting the paths of storms, but recently launched satellites should improve predictions in the next decade.

They have greatly improved hurricane forecasting, and that has saved thousand of lives by permitting timely evacuations.

Which of the following sets of conditions are most favorable for hurricane formation? Cold dry air, warm surface water, a location within a few kilometers of the equator, and high pressure Warm humid air, cold surface water, a location 1000 km (621 mi) from the equator, and strong upper-level winds Cold surface water, hot dry air, high waves, strong surface currents, and a subtropical location Warm humid air, warm surface water, a location ~500 km (~300 mi) from the equator, and weak upper-level winds

Warm humid air, warm surface water, a location ~500 km (~300 mi) from the equator, and weak upper-level winds

Why do hurricanes need warm sea-surface temperatures to form? The warmer surface water has greater amounts of the dissolved salts needed to seed cloud formation. Warmer water evaporates at a faster rate, and this transfers latent heat into the storm more quickly. Warmer water provides much less frictional resistance to wind, allowing greater wind speed to develop. It increases the amount of water vapor that can be stored in the atmosphere by warming the air from below.

Warmer water evaporates at a faster rate, and this transfers latent heat into the storm more quickly. It increases the amount of water vapor that can be stored in the atmosphere by warming the air from below.

The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index is ______. a compilation of energy expended in a cyclone and in a season the amount of energy available at the surface of the ocean at any one time, divided by the long-term average of energy there an estimate of the amount of hydrological power that could be generated by the inland rains provided by hurricanes the total amount of solar radiation needed to generate each category of hurricane

a compilation of energy expended in a cyclone and in a season

The winds from a vortex moving in the same direction as a hurricane's direction will ______ the winds from the storm. add to oppose

add to

Hurricanes have warm cores because ______. air sinking in the eye is warming adiabatically greenhouse gases get concentrated in their centers huge quantities of latent heat are released as precipitation is formed in rising air hail suspended by strong updrafts melts and releases heat

air sinking in the eye is warming adiabatically huge quantities of latent heat are released as precipitation is formed in rising air

Hurricanes are given human names because ______. they are named after the scientists who first identify them they are named after the people they have killed in the preceding years although they share many similarities, they each have their own individual characteristics they arise from other hurricanes, just like children arise from parents

although they share many similarities, they each have their own individual characteristics

The Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) is ______. the decades-long back-and-forth movement of a warm pool of water between the western Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea an alternating pattern of colder and warmer sea-surface temperatures in the North Atlantic a pattern of hurricane tracks in the Atlantic Ocean that tends to repeat over the course of 12 to 15 years the clockwise movement of the Bermuda High around the Atlantic basin over a 12- to 14-year period

an alternating pattern of colder and warmer sea-surface temperatures in the North Atlantic

When trying to understand the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, it is best to ______. study each basin prone to tropical cyclones (e.g., hurricanes) as isolated systems rely strictly on computer models of how hurricanes form collect data and think not just about hurricanes but other processes as well focus solely on the hurricanes themselves

collect data and think not just about hurricanes but other processes as well

The inward drop in air pressure in a hurricane allows inward flowing air to ____ below the sea-surface temperature, which in turn allows more heat to flow in from the sea.

cool

A hurricane that encounters an upper level trough will lose the power to its warm core and the storm transfers to a post-tropical ____ with a ____ core.

cyclone, cold

The storms called hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean are called ______ in the Indian Ocean and ______ in the Western Pacific. depressions; cyclones typhoons; depressions cyclones; typhoons typhoons; cyclones

cyclones; typhoons

The air inside a hurricane is ascending, whereas just outside the storm the air is ____, creating clear skies.

descending

Converging winds that rotate up around the center of hurricane without reaching the center form a(n) ______ around the core. derecho eyewall anticyclone supercell

eyewall

True or false? Elevators are safe to use in natural disasters.

false

True or false? The best way to study hurricanes is to concentrate solely on hurricane data.

false

Hurricane evacuation warnings ______. are best ignored by those living along the shore; they are only meant for tourists help to prevent deaths and should be taken seriously always cause more deaths than they save

help to prevent deaths and should be taken seriously

Unlike storms formed at higher latitudes, ____ are unique in that warm air descends in their centers and wind speeds decrease with increasing height. (Enter only one word per blank.)

hurricanes

____ are huge tropical cyclones.

hurricanes

If a hurricane collides with a weather front, it will mix with colder air and can transform into a ________ tornado track post-tropical cyclone derecho wind air mass thunder storm

post-tropical cyclone

Clouds and rainfall in hurricanes are organized into ______ that move in rotating spirals around the center of a hurricane. The rainfall is the most intense near the edges of the eye of the storm. rain bands cloud trains shower fonts convection loops

rain bands

The ITCZ is _____ of the equator in January.

south

The massive amounts of water hurricanes push onshore form what is known as storm ______. fetch roll wave surge

surge

Hurricanes do not form at or within 5°N or S of the equator because ______. the Coriolis effect is too weak there is not enough open ocean within those latitudes upwelling brings cold water to the surface of the ocean the Coriolis effect is up and down instead of left or right

the Coriolis effect is too weak

Hurricane eyewalls contain the highest wind speeds because ______. the biggest drop in air pressure occurs there air pressure is higher there the Coriolis effect is strongest near the center of the storm heavy rain forces air to move out of the way as it falls

the biggest drop in air pressure occurs there

Hurricanes cannot cross the equator because ______. gravity is pulling them toward higher latitude a high-pressure zone near the equator keeps them away from it the altitude of the stratosphere drops too low over the equator they would lose their rotation as the Coriolis effect drops to zero

they would lose their rotation as the Coriolis effect drops to zero

The hurricanes that form from ______ that develop in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) are known as Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico-type hurricanes. thunderstorms El Niños easterly waves Bermuda Highs

thunderstorms

Caribbean-type hurricanes form by ______. high-pressure systems formed over Mexico gaining strength as they move out over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean the convergence of the easterlies and the trade winds causing rapid convection during the late summer low-pressure systems from northern South America that are pushed northward by the northeast trade winds and strengthen over the ocean thunderstorms in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) that grow and strengthen as they are spun by the Coriolis effect

thunderstorms in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) that grow and strengthen as they are spun by the Coriolis effect

An easterly wave is a disturbance that develops within the ____ winds.

trade

Conditions that favor Cape Verde- and Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico-type hurricanes include ____ sea-surface temperatures and ____ atmospheric pressure conditions in the Caribbean.

warm, low