SG 2-7.docx

CHAPTER 2 STUDY GUIDE part 7 Hurricanes? What are the requirements for hurricane development? Warm moist air --> instability Sea surface temperature >80?F Gulf stream Upper level support -- little wind shear aloft (allows storm to organize) >5? N/S latitude -- requires Coriolis deflection in induce rotation (hurricanes cannot form on equator) Hurricanes don?t form in southern Atlantic basin or in the southern pacific basin What are the stages of tropical system development? trop. depression trop. storm hurricane What are the parts of a hurricane? Eye: very center of hurricane (eye of the storm); descending air; air pocket between the middle of the storm Spiral rain bands: (red line)on the periphery of the storm Eye wall: most intense area surrounding the eye At what locations and seasons of the year are hurricanes most common? Late summer (july, aug, sept) around the atlantic ocean and gulf What are typical tracks for hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Ocean? Steered by the STHP = anticylonic pathway in tropical ocean basins Storm itself is cyclonic; the pathway is NOT cyclonic Clockwise rotation in the northern hemisphere Hurricanes die out quickly because they lose their power source What is the storm surge and where is it worst within a hurricane? Storm surge: as the storm moves in the water is being pushed inland as well, forms a big wave on top of the surface or normal sea level What other sources of damage are common with hurricanes? High winds (even far inland) Tornadoes The hurricanes we experience are being fed off of squall lines that are formed from cold fronts Hurricanes can also spin off tornadoes Storm surge: as the storm moves in the water is being pushed inland as well, forms a big wave on top of the surface or normal sea level Always avoid north east side because of winds In golfport MS, 36 feet storm surge Heavy rainfall (especially mountainous areas)