tropical storms

Question 1

how do tropical storms form?

Answer 1

1. sea temp must be 27 deg or above
2. they form between 5 deg and 30 deg north and south of the equator
3. the rising air draws up further moist, warm air from the ocean’s surface generating strong winds
4. these clouds form an eye wall of the storm and produce heavy rainfall
5. cold air sinks at the centre creating a calm, dry area known as the eye of the storm
6. tropical storms will dry out if the heat energy moisture from the ocean are no longer available to drive the storm

Question 2

characteristics of a tropical storm

Answer 2

1. lasts around 7-14 days
2. heavy rainfall
3. high wind speeds
4. high waves and storm surges

Question 3

atmospheric circulation

Answer 3

the transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by the movement of air

Question 4

the three cells

Answer 4

the ferrel cell, the hadley cell, the polar cell

Question 5

hadley cell

Answer 5

the air rises at the equator and sinks at roughly 30 deg latitude. is responsible for the trade winds in the tropics and control low latitude weather patterns. in this cell there are tropical and desert climates

Question 6

ferrel cell

Answer 6

winds pull towards the poles and pick up moisture as they travel over oceans. the warm air meets the cold air at 60 degs mixing to create a mixture of air from the tropics and the poles

Question 7

polar cell

Answer 7

the air sinks forming high pressure and then the cold air flows towards lower latitudes. air mixes at 60 degs to form polar front

Question 8

air rising

Answer 8

low pressure

Question 9

air sinking

Answer 9

high pressure

Question 10

coriolis effect

Answer 10

a force that makes moving objects appear to curve on a rotating earth

Question 11

surface winds

Answer 11

winds that blow near the earth’s surface. they transfer heat and moisture from one place to another

Question 12

pressure belts

Answer 12

bands of high and low atmospheric pressure that exists around the earth a different latitudes