tropical storms Flashcards
what are tropical storms?
an area of low pressure with winds moving in a spiral around the eye of the storm. Rainfall is heavy and they can last for days to weeks within the tropics.
where are tropical storms usually found?
the tropics (mainly ITCZ)
usually in area of low latitude between 5 and 30 degrees north and south of the equator
tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean
- hurricane
- august -> October
- west then NW then NE
- 1-2.9 per year
tropical storms in the Indian Ocean
- cyclone
- December -> march
- direction varies depending on hemisphere
- frequency varies depending on hemisphere
tropical storms in the Pacific Ocean
- cyclone
- may -> December in west pacific
- direction varies
- > 3 frequency in west pacific
what direction do storms spin in northern hemisphere?
anti-clockwise
what direction do storms spin in southern hemisphere?
clockwise
how do we categorise storms?
Saffir Simpson scale
1-5, with 5 being most serious
what is monitoring and prediction
tracking the course of tropical storm using improved technology, allowing scientists to determine what course the storm is taking
what is planning
raising community and individual awareness to reduce the affect of tropical storms
what is protection
designing buildings that will withstand tropical storms
how does monitoring reduce the impact of tropical storms
- allows time for evacuation which reduced number of deaths and injuries
- people can protect their homes and businesses from strong winds and flooding
examples of monitoring tropical storms
satellites monitor cloud patterns associated with tropical storms
how does predicting tropical storms reduce the impact of them
allows time for evacuation, reducing the number of deaths and injuries
examples of predicting tropical storms
supercomputers give 5 days warning and predict a location within 400km
