MSCI Lab Quiz 3

Which direction is Earth rotating?

East

What does the coriolis effect do?

Makes objects curve

Examples of non-attached things affected by Coriolis

Water, air masses, airplanes

In the Northern Hemisphere, Coriolis deflects _______

right

In the Southern Hemisphere, Coriolis deflects _______

left

Where is there no Coriolis effect?

The equator

The faster the motion, the _______ the deflection

stronger

The _______ to the poles, the stronger the deflection

closer

Hurricanes

Violent cyclones that form over tropical oceans

What two things are needed for the formation of a hurricane?

1) Warm water (>26 C) = causes low pressure

2) Coriolis effect = causes rotation

Air is a ______

fluid

Hot air ______

rises

Cold air _____

sinks

Air always moves from ______ pressure to ________ pressure

high, low

Warm air = ___________

low pressure

Cold air = ___________

high pressure

Intertropical Convergence Zone

Area of low pressure at the equator

Storm Winds

Sustained wind speed at eyewall

Steering Winds

Local trade winds in area

Actual Winds

Combination of storm and steering winds

Wind direction

Wind blowing towards the circle at the tip of the barb

When does storm surge hit?

Before the hurricane

Storm surge

Elevated seas due to a low pressure over the water and cyclonic storm winds

Where do typhoons form?

Western Pacific Ocean

Where do cyclones form?

Indian Ocean

Hurricanes rotate _________ in the Northern Hemisphere

counter-clockwise

Hurricanes rotate _________ in the Southern Hemisphere

clockwise

The eye is _______ and has ________ winds

cloudless, light

What is the worst part of a hurricane?

The eyewall

Winds are named from the _____________

direction which they blow

Water molecules are _______

polar

Latent heat of vaporization in water

540 calories/g

What process starts hurricanes?

Water being warmed by the sun

What factor external to the storm can influence storm surge height?

The tide

In what month do most Atlantic hurricanes form?

September