Storm Surges

Question 1

What causes a storm?

Answer 1

By an intense area of low air pressure.

As a result of this low pressure, the sea water level increases in the immediate area of the storm.

Question 2

This bump in the sea level can be carried along by the long waves generated by the storm which of the travel faster than the storm itself.

What happens to the long waves in deep water?

Answer 2

The long waves quickly dissipate.

Question 3

What happens when the long waves are produced close to shallow waters?

Answer 3

The energy of the Long waves has no time to dissipate, and the speed reduces as the water depth decrease causing the wave height to increase.

Question 4

What is the best place to be when there is a combination of big waves and a bump in the sea level?

Answer 4

At sea, and away from the coast line.

Some tidal ports will order ships to leave and proceed to see when a storm surge is expected.

Question 5

Short surges may be more pronounced when?

Answer 5

Combining with spring tides.

Spring tides occur twice in each lunar month when the sun, moon and earth are aligned.