Ch12 self quiz

As a hurricane tracks from sea to land, surface winds weaken and shift toward the eye. surface winds weaken and rains end abruptly. the threat of tornadoes ends. surface winds shift toward high pressure. None of the above is correct.

a

Cold surface ocean water prevents hurricanes from forming north of 30 degrees N 10 degrees N the equator

a

Hurricane winds weaken rapidly once the system makes landfall. typically cause extensive property damage thousands of kilometers inland. are usually stronger than the winds in a violent tornado. strengthen as the system moves from over the ocean to over land. None of the above is correct.

a

Hurricanes rarely form off the coast of South America primarily because of shear produced by strong winds in the middle and upper troposphere. a weak Coriolis Effect. persistent cloud-cover. relatively low sea-surface temperatures. None of the above is correct.

a

The eye wall of a hurricane is a ring of intense thunderstorms. the least dangerous part of the storm. an area of calm winds.

a

The horizontal air pressure gradient is ______ in a hurricane than in a typical extra-tropical cyclone. steeper less steep

a

When winds in a tropical disturbance reach 37 km per hr or higher, the storm is called a tropical depression. a tropical storm. a hurricane. a severe thunderstorm.

a

A tropical cyclone breeding ground: the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar the Arabian Sea the Bay of Bengal the Gulf of Mexico All of the above are correct.

all

The hurricane threat to the Southeast United States is serious because most residents have never experienced a hurricane. of rapid population growth in coastal areas. of the vulnerability of low-lying coastal areas to a storm surge. All of the above are correct. None of the above is correct.

all

The following condition(s) would inhibit development of tropical storms and hurricanes over the tropical eastern Atlantic: subsidence of air on the eastern flank of the Bermuda-Azores high strong vertical wind shear low vapor pressure in the middle troposphere unusually low sea-surface temperatures Any of the above is correct.

any

A hurricane is approaching you from the east. The wind changes from very strong northerly to calm. This means that the eye is overhead and it is safe to leave your shelter. the eye is overhead and the other half of the system is yet to come. the hurricane has dissipated and only light showers remain. a tornado spawned by the hurricane just missed you.

b

At latitude 10 degrees N, Atlantic basin hurricanes generally drift slowly toward the east. drift slowly toward the west. move rapidly toward the northeast. move rapidly southward.

b

Each year the United States experiences ___________ hurricanes than tornadoes. more far fewer

b

Easterly waves originate in Europe North Africa South Africa the U.S. East coast

b

Fair skies and light winds are typical of the eye wall. the eye of the hurricane.

b

Hurricanes do not form at the equator because sea-surface temperatures typically are too low. there is no Coriolis Effect. fronts are present. All of the above are correct. None of the above is correct.

b

Most Northern Hemisphere hurricanes occur in winter. from June through November. from November through March. in spring. in early summer.

b

Sustained surface winds in a hurricane are greater than 250 km (155 mi) per hour. 119 km (74 mi) per hour or higher. strongest in the eye of the system. typically stronger than the winds produced by a F5 tornado. weakest in the eye wall.

b

The horizontal air pressure gradient is ______ in a hurricane than in a F4 tornado. steeper weaker

b

The minimum latitude where the Coriolis Effect is strong enough to sustain a hurricane circulation is about ______ degrees. 0 5 10 20 23.5

b

The most hurricane-prone location in the United States is New England. Florida. Chicago, IL. San Diego, CA. Tucson, AZ.

b

The source of energy that sustains a hurricane circulation is sensible heat. latent heat. infrared radiation. ultraviolet radiation. None of these is correct.

b

The storm surge of Hurricane Ike tested the seawall of Miami, FL Galveston, TX Ocean City, MD Pensacola, FL

b

A(n) __________ is often situated above a hurricane. polar jet stream subpolar low anticyclonic air flow All of the above are correct. None of the above is correct.

c

By convention, major hurricanes rate ______ or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale. 1 2 3 4 5

c

Full-blown hurricanes ______ strike New England. never often occasionally

c

Hurricane formation requires a sea-surface temperature of at least 26.5 °C through a depth of at least ______ meters. 100 15 45 25

c

Hurricanes and tropical storms are least likely to affect New England. North Carolina. the west coast of South America. coastal California. New Jersey.

c

The SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) model is used by weather forecasters to predict the devastation that will be caused by storm surge. the strength of the hurricane. the location and height of storm surge.

c

The diameter of a hurricane is typically ______ that of an extra-tropical cyclone. greater than about the same as less than

c

The heavy rains of a hurricane are almost always confined to coastal areas. are triggered by subsidence within the eye. often persist as the system tracks well inland. seldom produce flooding. None of the above is correct.

c

The highest wind speeds in a hurricane occur between spiral bands. in the spiral cloud bands. in the eye wall. in the eye.

c

The only year on record in which major hurricanes were present in all 6 months of the Atlantic hurricane season was 2003 2005 2008 2001

c

Ultimately, the rate of evaporation of seawater is governed principally by air pressure. cloud cover. sea-surface temperature. whether it is raining or snowing. the tides.

c

______ convective cloud clusters that appear over the tropical Atlantic develop into full-blown hurricanes. Most About half Very few

c

A tropical disturbance may be triggered by the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). a trough in the westerlies intruding into low latitudes. an easterly wave. Any of the above is correct. None of the above is correct.

d

Hurricanes dissipate when they move over colder ocean water. they move over land. surface inflow of air exceeds upper-level outflow of air. All of the above are correct. None of the above is correct.

d

In the United States over the 30-year period from 1970 to 1999, the majority of tropical cyclone-related fatalities was due to tornadoes. lightning. storm surge flooding. inland freshwater flooding. high winds.

d

Overall, category 5 hurricanes are __________category 2 and 3 hurricanes. less destructive than much more common than more frequent than much less frequent than

d

The Sahara air layer (SAL) inhibits tropical cyclone development. is a mass of dry, dusty stable air. originates over the Sahara Desert. All of the above are correct.

d

The eye of a hurricane typically shrinks in diameter as the hurricane intensifies. features subsiding air. is surrounded by a ring of cumulonimbus clouds (the eye wall). All of the above are correct. None of the above is correct.

d

The major source of energy in a hurricane is the downdraft in the system's "eye." polar front jet stream aloft. strong temperature contrast across fronts. release of the latent heat of vaporization. None of the above is correct.

d

When a hurricane threatens low-lying coastal areas, the most prudent strategy for residents is to seek shelter in the basement. purchase flood insurance and wait out the storm at home. hide under a sturdy table or bench. evacuate to an inland shelter. ride out the storm on a boat.

d

A hurricane differs from an extra-tropical cyclone in that a hurricane has no fronts. develops within a uniform warm and humid air mass. is more intense but smaller. is a warm-core system. All of the above are correct.

e

A tropical storm or hurricane develops in __________ air. continental tropical continental polar arctic maritime polar maritime tropical

e

As a hurricane tracks inland, its winds diminish. central pressure rises. rains continue and may be heavy. horizontal pressure gradient weakens. All of the above are correct.

e

Force(s) operating within a hurricane: Coriolis Effect friction pressure gradient force centripetal force All of the above are correct.

e

Historically, the most destructive aspect of a hurricane striking a low-lying coastal area: strong winds. heavy rains. hail. wind shear. storm surge.

e

The first sign that a hurricane may be developing over tropical seas is the appearance of high, thin cirrus clouds. a warm anticyclone. strong winds aloft. altocumulus lenticularis clouds. an organized cluster of cumulonimbus clouds.

e

Tornadoes______ accompany hurricanes that make landfall on the U.S. East coast. rarely often

often