Tropical Storms (Hurricanes)

Question 1

What is a Tropical Storm?

Answer 1

is a large system of rising, spiraling air and is associated with very strong winds, heavy rain and low atmospheric pressure.

Question 2

Where do they develop?

Answer 2

They develop over oceans within the tropics and can cause devastation in coastal areas

Question 3

what is stage one of a tropical storm formation?

Answer 3

Tropical storms start when clusters of thunderstorms drift over warm water.

Question 4

What is stage two of a tropical storm formation

Answer 4

Very warm air from the storm and the oceans surface combine and begin creating low pressure at the oceans surface.

Question 5

What is stage three of a tropical storm formation

Answer 5

As the storm moves over the ocean it picks up more moist air. Wind speed increases as more air is sucked into the low pressure

Question 6

What is stage four of a tropical storm formation

Answer 6

Air rises faster and faster to fill the low pressure, drawing in more warm air off the sea to feed the storm

Question 7

What is stage five of a tropical storm formation

Answer 7

Trade winds blowing in opposite directions cause the storm to start spinning. Storms spin anti-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 8

What is stage six of a tropical storm formation

Answer 8

Once the wind speeds are stronger than 120km/hr the tropical storm becomes a hurricane.

Question 9

What are the ways of predicting and forecasting hurricanes?
5

Answer 9

• satellites
  -Radar
  -Computer models
  -Radiosonde balloons
  -ships and buoys

Question 10

How are satellites used to predict hurricanes

Answer 10

are very effective in
monitoring the build up, and movement, of Tropical Storms,
providing photos covering large
parts of the Earth’s surface

Question 11

How are ships and buoys used to predict hurricanes?

Answer 11

provide weather
data from the oceans where a
Hurricane is developing

Question 12

How is radar used to predict hurricanes?

Answer 12

are used to gain information and
density of rainfall

Question 13

How is computer models used to predict hurricanes?

Answer 13

at the National Hurricane Centre in Florida, They are able to predict the speed, intensity and strength of a Hurricane over the days before the storm hits land

Question 14

How are Radiosonde Balloons used to predict hurricanes?

Answer 14

send back data on temperature, humidity and pressure from different heights within a Hurricane

Question 15

What is the case study for Hurricanes?

Answer 15

Hurricane Sandy

Question 16

When did the hurricane form?

Answer 16

on the 22nd of October in 2015 and developed from a tropical wave in the Caribbean sea.

Question 17

After it was fully formed, where did the hurricane move to next?

Answer 17

the hurricane moved north, up the East coast of the USA heading for the tristate area.

Question 18

When and where did it make landfall?

Answer 18

made landfall 5 miles SW of Atlantic City around 8pm on October 29th.

Question 19

What was a cause that caused hurricane sandy to be stronger?

Answer 19

Hurricane remained offshore for a long period of time using warm ocean temperatures to create the largest Atlantic Storm system with winds spanning 1100 miles.

Question 20

What was another cause that caused the hurricane sandy to be stronger?

Answer 20

It was pulled towards land by the jet stream and these winds pulled it towards an artic cold front merging to extreme weather events into one mammoth storm.

Question 21

What is the final cause that caused Hurricane sandy to be stronger?

Answer 21

It gained strength as it approached the coast as it moves over the Gulf Stream (a warm ocean current from the waters to the south).

Question 22

What preparations were taken in New Jersey for Hurricane Sandy? 5

Answer 22

-Forecasting of the Hurricane
-Mandatory evacuation of low lying areas along the coastline.
-509 out of 580 schools were closed
- Tolls were suspended on the Garden State Parkway to allow people to leave quickly and safely.
-closure of all casinos in Atlantic City.

Question 23

What preparations were taken in New York for Hurricane Sandy? 5

Answer 23

-Mandatory evacuation of Southern Manhattan and low lying areas of Queens
- Shelters were set up in of schools outside of the evacuation zone.
-MTA suspended all subway/rail/bus services
-Residents stocked up on bottled water and canned food
-New York stalk exchange was closed for consecutive days for the first time since 9/11

Question 24

Effects in New Jersey: 5

Answer 24

-Town nearly swept to sea
-65% of New Jersey was without electricity
- Seaside Heights theme park was destroyed
-Gas leaks lead to explosions
-in some parts there was 3ft of water in the streets

Question 25

Effects in New York: 5

Answer 25

-18 people died
- there was 46 miles of flooding
- The whole city of New York was without electricity
-Airports were closed as the runways were under several feet of water
- For days there were searches for people

Question 26

Short term aid received: 4

Answer 26

• Rescue of stranded residents in New York by local coast guard and police departments
• State of emergency declared and president Obama signed an emergency decleration freeing up federal funds.
  -Utility companies worked around the clock to reconnect the millions of residents without electricity.
• 200 national guard troops were deployed in NYC, working with the American Red Cross to provide food and shelter to those left homeless.

Question 27

Long term aid received: 4

Answer 27

-rebuilding of homes, schools and other buildings destroyed by the strong winds, flooding and fires
-Repair of Subway and railway tracks damaged by salt water as well as the rebuilding of key power stations.
-Rebuilding of the Broadwalk and other tourist attractions in the area, would attracts tourists back and provide jobs.
- Increased call for a suitable flood defence system to protect lower Manhattan, it is expensive but will be protecting for future storms.