Formation of Large Scale Tropical Disturbances (cyclone, hurricane, typhoon) Flashcards

1
Q

1) warm air

A
  • warm, moist air rises, leaves area of low pressure below
  • causes warm air from surrounding areas of high pressure to move into low pressure zone, and rise too
  • means warm air is constantly rising and accumulating in atmosphere
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2
Q

2) what happens to warm air

A

when warm air rises, it cools, condensing into thunderstorm clouds

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3
Q

3) spins

A
  • whole system spinning as coriolis effect.
  • in southern hemi, spins clockwise, in northern hemi, antilock
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4
Q

4) energy

A
  • constant addition of energy from warm air causes storm to spin faster, generate higher wind speeds.
  • diff in pressure between low pressure centre and higher pressure surroundings = air sucked in to centre, enhances high winds
  • at 39mph, classified as tropical storm
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5
Q

5) eye

A
  • eye of storm is in centre
  • 30 mile wide area, extremely low pressure (15% lower pressure than areas outside storm)
  • cool, dry air descends in the eye, causing weather to be quite calm and cloud free
  • more intense the storm, clearer the eye
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6
Q

6) speed

A
  • surrounding eye is eyewall (most intense and powerful area of storm)
  • warm, moist air rapidly rises here, v high winds and torrential rain
  • when winds reach 74mph, becomes hurricane, cyclone, typhoon
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7
Q

7) movement

A
  • when tropical storm reaches coast, low pressure high winds = large amount of sea water taken into system, released as high wave called storm surge
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8
Q

8) land

A
  • when reaches land, doesnt have energy supply anymore (warm, moist air from the sea)
  • eye eventually collapses. heavy rain persists for days
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