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Hurricanes
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is a hurricane? | A massive rotating storm fueled by heat from warm ocean water |
| What is another name for a hurricane? | Tropical cylone |
| What powers hurricanes? | Heat energy from warm ocean water and water vapor. |
| What are major hazards of hurricanes? | Strong winds, storm surge, flooding rain, and tornadoes |
| What is the critical ocean temperature required for hurricanes | At least 80°F (27°C) |
| How deep must the warm water be? | About 200 feet deep |
| Why does warm, deep water matter? | It provides continuous heat energy to fuel the storm |
| What other conditions are needed for hurricane formation? | Warm, moist, unstable air Low wind shear At least 300 km from the equator |
| What is the first stage of a hurricane? | Tropical disturbance (disorganized storms) |
| When does it become a tropical depression? | When winds organize and strengthen. |
| When does it become a tropical storm? | When winds exceed 39 mph |
| When does it officially become a hurricane? | When winds exceed 74 mph and an eye forms |
| What are the main parts of a hurricane? | Eye Eyewall Rainbands |
| What is the eye of a hurricane? | The calm, low-pressure center with little wind and cloud |
| What is the eyewall? | A ring of intense storms surrounding the eye |
| Where are the strongest winds in a hurricane? | In the eyewall |
| Where is the heaviest precipitation? | In the eyewall and rainbands |
| What are rainbands? | Spiral bands of thunderstorms around the storm |
| What happens at the surface of a hurricane? | Warm, moist air moves toward the center |
| What happens in the eyewall? | Air rises rapidly and releases heat |
| Why does the storm get stronger? | Heat release from condensation fuels stronger updrafts |
| What happens at the top of the storm? | Air spreads outward and loses heat |
| What is an eyewall replacement cycle? | A new outer eyewall forms and replaces the old one, sometimes weakening then restrengthening the storm |
| Why do hurricanes weaken over land? | They lose access to warm ocean moisture |
| What else can weaken a hurricane? | Cold air Wind shear Moving into higher latitudes |
| What does the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale measure? | Wind speed and potential damage |
| What is the range of the scale? | Category 1 (weakest) to Category 5 (strongest) |
| What happens to hurricane strength after landfall? | It decreases due to loss of moisture |
| Why must hurricanes form away from the equator? | They need Coriolis force to spin |
| How do hurricanes help Earth’s climate? | They move heat from the tropics to cooler regions |
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