Things to know about Hurricanes and Tsunamis

what are the “seeds” needed before a hurricane can begin to take shape?

warm ocean water, atmospheric moisture, (energy), and low wind shear

what are the 4 ingredients for a hurricane

warm ocean water, pre-existing weather disturbance, thunderstorm activity, warm wind shear

where do hurricanes get their energy

from warm ocean waters

where is the more dangerous part of a hurricane

the right front quadrant

where are the winds strongest in a hurricane

right front quadrant

why does the eye of a powerful hurricane have clear skies and powerful winds?

sinking air (subsidence) & centrifugal force

most people die in a hurricane because they:

stay when it’s unsafe

what parts of the world use hurricane to name storms

united states, carribean, mexico

what parts of the world use typhoon as the name of a hurricane

east asia, philippines, japan, china

what parts of the world use cyclone as a name for a hurricane

australia, india, bangladesh, madagascar

what is the FIRST stage of hurricane formation called

tropical disturbance

what is the SECOND stage of hurricane formation called

tropical depression

what is the THIRD stage of hurricane formation called

tropical storm

what is the FINAL stage of hurricane formation called

hurricane

what is the name of the scale used to measure hurricane wind speeds

saffir-simpson hurricane wind speed scale

what are the wind speeds of a CATEGORY ONE hurricane

74-95 mph

what are the wind speeds of a CATEGORY TWO hurricane

96-110 mph

what are the wind speeds of a CATEGORY THREE hurricane

111-129 mph

what are the wind speeds of a CATEGORY FOUR hurricane

130-156 mph

what are the wind speeds of a CATEGORY FIVE hurricane (most powerful!!)

157+ mph

what are the reasons as to why hurricane katrina (2005) was so devastating

unprecedented storm surge, various flood protection infrastructures had failed

most atlantic hurricanes begin to from of the coast of africa near the islands of

cape verde

how does barometric pressure relate to the strength of a hurricane

lower barometric pressure directly correlates to higher hurricane intensity

most of the deaths in a hurricane are due to what force from the hurricane

the storm surge (debris)

what qualifies as a “major hurricane”

category three or higher

when forecasting a hurricanes path, meterologists refer to the potential path as the

cone of uncertainty

how does a hurricane form

when moist air rises & condenses, releasing energy that powers a growing thunderstorm cluster

where are the two tsunami warning centers located

hawaii & alaska

what are the 4 causes of a tsunami

underwater earthquakes, underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions, & meteor impacts (very rarely)

a tsunami is also known as

seismic sea waves

with regards to plate tectonics, what type of zone causes tsunamis and how does it actually cause them

subduction zones, when subduction occurs, the one plate goes under another, then the overriding plate snaps upwards, abruptly lifting the entire water column

what is the name of the theory that states that “plates want to return to a non-stress position”

elastic rebound theory

why are tsunamis able to carry so much energy over thousands of miles of ocean, & still be destructive

the energy extends through the entire ocean depth, rather than just the surface, they have extremely long wavelengths as well

what is the speed range of a tsunami in the open ocean

500-700 mph

how are tsunamis measured, & what is the term used to gauge their height on land

run-up

how do we detect tsunamis?

DART Buoys & Tide Gauges

what is the potential problem of a tsunami warning system

communication, false tsunamis, people thinking that it’s false again when it’s not

what are the warning signs of a tsunami

earthquake, loud ocean roar, unusual ocean behavior, rise/fall of water, sudden drain of water showing the ocean floor

what country has been affected most by devastating tsunamis

japan

what is the difference between a hurricane storm surge and a tsunami

hurricanes impact an area over a certain # of days, tsunamis impact an area over 1-2 hours with wave periods very 10 minutes

tidal bores & difference between tsunamis

predictable, gravitational phenomena, occurs in specific rivers/bays. varies in cause, scale, & predictability

tsunamis & difference between tidal bores

unpredictable, destructive, & caused by seismic events. varies in cause, scale, & predictability