final Flashcards
(16 cards)
worst hurricane years on record
2005 - 27 named storms, 13 hurricanes, 7 major
2020 - 30 named storms
hurricanes in the last 100 years
42 category 5 hurricanes
since 1960 - only 6 years with more than 1 category 5
2005 is only year with more than 2 cat 5s (had 4)
most wide-spread and destructive weather disaster
hurricanes
weaker hurricane storms lead to
impact larger area
largest death toll for any hazard in US history
1900 hurricane in Galveston, TX
diff names for hurricanes
atlantic and eastern pacific
– hurricanes (10 named storms, 6 hurricanes)
pacific ocean
– typhoons (16 named, 9 typhoons)
—higher bc of warm water and more open ocean to grow
indian ocean
– called cyclones
storm stages
tropical wave
tropical depression/disturbance
tropical storm
hurricane
tropical wave
initial low pressure disturbance
unorganized, moving west, winds <20 mph
tropical depression/ disturbance
moving mass of thunder storms
starting to organize, assigned a number wind <39 mph
tropical storm
named
distinct rotary motion, wind 39-74 mph
hurricane
well-defined circular structure with large rain bands
central “eye” of low pressure winds >74 mph
atlantic storm growth
where, when, how
off the coast of Africa (5-10 deg N/S of equator)
season is June-Nov - largest are Aug-Oct
critical conditions: calm wind (large upper-level winds will prevent storm from organizing), warm surface water, vertical disturbance in atmosphere (westerly mid-lat winds meet easterly trade winds)
hurricane power generation
release of heat from condensation of water
cat 2 = 100s of hydrogen bombs
= US energy demand for 6 months
climate change impact on hurricanes
ocean warming will result in 3-5 more Atlantic hurricanes per year
could be 15-30% more powerful
progression of storms
positive feedback loop:
stronger winds -> more cyclonic motion -> draws up more moisture & heat from sea -> stronger winds
