Tropical Cyclones Flashcards

1
Q

Biggest economic cyclone

A

Hurricane Katrina

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2
Q

How much in damages did Katrina cause

A

$100 bn

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3
Q

Most deaths from cyclone

A

Bhola, Bangladesh, 300,000-500,000

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4
Q

Record pressure minimum

A

870 hPa, West Pacific

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5
Q

6 ingredients for tropical cyclone formation

A

Sufficient ocean temperature, mid-level humidity, convective instability, low-level vorticity disturbance, small vertical shear, coriolis force

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6
Q

Ocean thermal energy for tropical cyclones

A

> 26 degrees between surface and 60m

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7
Q

4 stages in tropical cyclone formation

A

Tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane

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8
Q

Tropical disturbance

A

Organised convection

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9
Q

Tropical depression

A

Tropical disturbance with closed circulation

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10
Q

Tropical storm

A

Convection concentrated in the centre & self sustaining

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11
Q

Hurricane

A

Very high wind speeds (>64 kt) and well defined eye

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12
Q

Disturbance in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific

A

Easterly Waves

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13
Q

Mesoscale convective systems can form in the troughs of the

A

African Easterly Jet

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14
Q

N/S Pacific & Indian Ocean disturbance

A

Monsoon troughs

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15
Q

Monsoon flows are

A

Moist & southwesterly

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16
Q

Monsoon flows enhanced by

A

Northeasterly trade winds

17
Q

The monsoon trough creates a region favourable for

A

Low-level spin

18
Q

Warm sea surface temperatures provide energy with

A

Latent and sensible heating

19
Q

Latent heat causes air to ___ and surface low to ___

A

Expand, strengthen

20
Q

Tropical cyclones - frictional convergence of moisture causes

A

Rising motion

21
Q

Impact vertical wind shear has on tropical cyclone intensification

A

Negative

22
Q

Tropical cyclones have a ___ structure with a clear ___

A

Symmetrical, eye

23
Q

What limits the intensity of tropical cyclones in the southern hemisphere?

A

Zonal winds

24
Q

4 hostile environments for tropical cyclones

A

Strong vertical wind shear, cool ocean temperature, dry air intrustion, landfall

25
Q

If a tropical cyclone enters the extratropics, it can undergo

A

Extratropical transition

26
Q

Hurricane structure

A

Outflow - cirrus cloud shield, eye, eyewall, inflow, rainbands

27
Q

Wavelength which shows rainfall

A

Microwave

28
Q

Wind speeds decrease with height in ___

A

Hurricanes

29
Q

In hurricanes, warm air ___ and cold air ___

A

Inflows, outflows

30
Q

Tropical cyclones are ___ scale

A

synoptic