Ch. 11 - Hurricanes (Study Guide Questions)
Understand the basic structure of a hurricane (eye, eyewall, rainbands).
Eye: This is the calm center of the hurricane, usually clear skies and low winds. Surrounded by the eyewall. Eyewall: A ring of intense thunderstorms surrounding the eye. Strongest winds and heaviest rainfall occurs here. Rainbands: The outer bands of spiralling rain showers and thunderstorms extending from the center. Can produce strong winds and heavy rain.
What are the main hazards of hurricanes? List and describe them.
High winds, storm surge, heavy rain, flooding, and tornados.
Know some notable hurricanes: Hugo, Andrew, Katrina, Sandy, Florence, Michael.
Hugo: (1989) Struck the Carolinas as a Category 4 hurricane, causing extensive damage Andrew: (1992) Devastated South Florida as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the costliest in US history Katrina: (2005) Infamously hit New Orleans as a Category 3 hurricane, causing catastrophic flooding Sandy: (2012) Made landfall in the northeastern US as a post-tropical cyclone, causing widespread damage and flooding Florence: (2018) Brought heavy rainfall and flooding to the Carolinas as a Category 1 hurricane Michael: (2018) Made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 hurricane, one of the strongest on record in the US
What is the primary cause of death in US landfalling storms? The world?
In the US, the primary cause of death is storm surges and inland flooding. Globally, the primary cause of death varies, but storm surges, flooding and strong winds are up there.
What ingredients are needed for a tropical storm to form?
Organized system of clouds or storms with 39-73 mph winds.
What is storm surge? Where is it maximized?
Storm surge is a rising of the sea due to atmospheric pressure changes and wind due to a storm or hurricane, and it is worse in the upper right quadrant.
Know where the strongest and weakest winds are located in the hurricane.
Strongest Winds: In the Eyewall Weakest Winds: In the Eye
What are the four stages of hurricane development?
Tropical Disturbance: Cluster of thunderstorms with some spin, but winds are less than 23 mph/37 km Tropical Depression: More defined circulation, winds range from 23-39 mph Tropical Storm: System of weather is given a name, winds range from 39-73 mph/63-118 km Hurricane: Ranging from a Category 1-5 storm, winds range from 74+ mph/119+ km
When does a storm receive a name? Understand the naming process.
Tropical storms and hurricanes receive names once they reach a certain intensity and become an organized tropical system. The names are pre-determined; there are six lists and they alternate genders; the names get recycled every six years; if a name gets used then it becomes retired.
Hurricane Watch and Warning.
Watch: Having all the ingredients in the atmosphere to create a hurricane Warning: There is a hurricane
When is the peak in Atlantic hurricanes and why?
mid-september because sea surface temperatures are warm, atmospheric conditions are conductive to storm development, and the overall environment becomes more favorable for hurricanes to form and intensify.
What is the difference between a Hurricane, Typhoon and a Cyclone?
Hurricane: Storms in the North Atlantic, central and eastern North Pacific, and South Pacific Typhoon: Used in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, particularly near Asia Cyclone: Common term for storms in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean
Understand the right-front-quadrant and what it means in terms of wind speed and storm surge.
The right front quadrant of a hurricane is the area to the northeast of the storm's center when you're facing in its direction of movement. There are higher wind speeds and more potential for storm surges to occur because of the storm's forward motion and the counterclockwise rotation, pushing the water towards the coast.
