Hurricanes

Question 1

What is a hurricane?

Answer 1

A hurricane is a large rotating storm that forms over warm waters in tropical areas.

Question 2

How do hurricanes form?

Answer 2

Hurricanes form over the warm ocean water of the tropics. When warm moist air over the water rises, it is replaced by cooler air. The cooler air will then warm and start to rise. This cycle causes huge storm clouds to form.

Question 3

What does a hurricane need to survive/ to form?

Answer 3

• High humidity
• Sea surface temperature of at least 26.5 degrees celsius
• Light winds
• Tropical waters between 8 and 20 degrees latitude

Question 4

What is the Saffir Simpson scale and what does it measure?

Answer 4

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. This scale estimates/ measures potential property damage.

Question 5

What are 2 impacts of Typhoon Haiyan?

Answer 5

• Thousands of trees were uprooted leading to a massive release of carbon dioxide and loss of habitat with resulting effects on wildlife. Major roads were blocked by trees
• 7500 people killed and 9 million people affected. The Philippines faced a humanitarian crisis days after the typhoon hit much of the Visayas with 1.9 million homeless and more than 6,000,000 displaced.

Question 6

What are 2 impacts of Hurricane Sandy?

Answer 6

• The storm damaged or destroyed at least 650,000 homes

- Subway system shutdown

Question 7

Why did the Philippines suffer more than New York City after the tropical storm?

Answer 7

Because New York is more stable financially and although hurricane Sandy was $68.7 billion of damage and typhoon Haiyan was only $2.98, the Philippines struggled more.