Chapter 11 (Hurricanes)

A hurricane is defined as a large area of sustained winds greater than 119 km/hr this is the wind speed at which __________.

the center of the storm develops a calm area known as the eye

Inside the eye of a well-developed hurricane __________.

air sinks and adiabatically warms

The air in the eye of a hurricane __________, leaving the core clear and cloud-free.

sinks, warms, and absorbs moisture

The strongest winds in a hurricane are _________.

in the eye wall

At the top of a hurricane, upper-level air is __________ outside of the eye wall.

diverging

Which of the following is a rotating, low-pressure weather system with a warm core that generally forms over warm seawater between 5° and 20° latitude and then travels off to deliver its heat to higher latitudes?

All of these choices are correct.

The Saffir-Simpson Scale is used to measure the intensity of __________.

hurricanes

The Saffir-Simpson Scale is numbered 1 to 5 with __________ wind speeds.

larger numbers indicating lower pressure and higher

Hurricanes are called major hurricanes if __________.

are classified as category 3 or above on the Saffir-Simpson Scale

The main influences on tropical cyclone paths include all but which of the following?

the presence or absence of large cargo ships in their paths

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season broke many all-time records, including all but which of the following?

greatest number of deaths in one season

As they approach North America, hurricanes commonly move north on clockwise-curving paths due to the __________.

Coriolis effect

Which of the following conditions leads to a prediction for a greater number of named storms in the Atlantic Ocean?

All of these choices are correct.

Based on the historic record, __________ is month in which a deadly hurricane is most likely to make landfall in the United States.

September

Most deaths in tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons, etc.) are the result of __________.

sea surges

If you are on the "right-hand side" of the tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere you experience the __________.

speed of the storm body plus the wind speed

The danger of (Northern Hemisphere) storm surge is most extreme __________ of a hurricane, due to the forward motion of the storm motion and the direction of rotating winds.

on the front-right side

The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history was __________which killed more than 8,000 people.

the Galveston, Texas, hurricane of 1900

Sea level rose 1 foot in the 20th century. It is expected to rise again by __________ in the 21st century.

2.0 or more feet

Along many low-lying sections of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, a 1 ft rise in sea level may equate to as much as __________ ft of inland movement of the beach.

1,000

Since 1979 hurricanes and tropical storms have been given both male and female names. How are these storms named if there are more than 21 named storms in a given year?

They are named after letters in the Greek Alphabet, starting with alpha.

The deadliest hurricane in U.S. history struck __________ in 1900 killing 8,000 people.

Galveston, Texas,

The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is a reasonably distinct pattern of alternating times __________.

of colder versus warm water in the North Atlantic Ocean

The total energy released by all the tropical cyclones in one season is captured by the __________.

Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index

Which of the following statements about Hurricane Hugo is true?

It was a powerful 1989 hurricane that killed 11 people and caused over $14 billion in damages.

Which of the following best describes the evacuation dilemma?

There are often more people living in coastal cites than can be safely evacuated in less than 72 hours, potentially trapping them in traffic jams when the storm hits.

In a 10-year period from 2006-20015, the United States was ________ for hurricanes.

below average

Hurricane __________ crossed Florida (2017) and expanded more energy than the total energy unleashed in 2013 or 2014 or 2015.

Irma

In major hurricanes with wind speeds greater than __________per hour, a narrow or contracting eyewall may be replaced.

180 km

North Atlantic hurricanes all have an eye diameter of __________.

16-70 km

Which of the following locations has the lowest return period for hurricanes?

Outer Banks, nc

Which of the following locations has the highest return period for hurricanes?

New england

As of early 2016, Hurricane Katrina (2005) is the most costly and third most deadly natural disaster in the United States since 1900. Scientists thought a hurricane strike causing a disaster like this one in New Orleans __________.

would happen if preparation for the coming disaster did not occur

Hurricane __________ (2017) surpassed Hurricane Katrina as the costliest hurricane in U.S. history

Harvey

Which of the following was the biggest issue associated with Hurricane Harvey?

inland flooding

Hurricanes can push high mounds of seawater onshore as surges that temporarily raise sea level over 6 m (20 ft).

true

The Fujita Scale describes the magnitude of hurricanes.

false

andrew was the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history in terms of both monetary losses and human lives.

false

A hurricane may develop from a mega-ripple in the trade winds called an easterly wave.

true

A tropical depression is more intense than a tropical disturbance.

true

The development of a hurricane begins with an Arctic disturbance which is a low-pressure zone that draws in a poorly organized cluster of thunderstorms with weak surface winds.

false

The energy released in a hurricane by forming clouds and rain is greater than the energy of its winds.

true

Because the distinctive eye forms at wind speeds of about 119 km/hr (74 mph), this wind speed defines the threshold where a tropical storm has grown strong enough to be called a hurricane.

true

Requirements for a hurricane to develop include all but which of the following?

The storm must be at least 200 km from the equator.

The most important energy source for a hurricane is heat released by condensation of water vapor inside the storm.

true

Hurricanes that move onto land with high temperatures strengthen rapidly.

false

Fronts are not associated with hurricanes.

true

Hurricane centers are colder than their surroundings.

false

As a hurricane moves farther north, it weakens because the Coriolis effect decreases with distance from the equator.

false

Most U.S. hurricane deaths have been associated with sea surges occurring when a hurricane moves on land.

true

The number of people killed by hurricanes in the United States increased in the latter part of the 20 th century.

false

Hurricane surges are made worse if they coincide with a high tide at full or new moon.

true

A typhoon is more like a tornado than a hurricane.

false

Hurricanes often form right on the equator, because the ocean water is warmest there.

false

Hurricanes rotate in a __________ around a central core in the Northern Hemisphere.

counterclockwise direction

A hurricane moving over ocean water at 21°C (~70°F) would strengthen.

false

Rank the following in order of increasing strength.

tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, and hurricane

As a hurricane forms, converging surface winds meet at the central core, which acts like a chimney sending __________.

warm, moist air flowing rapidly upward

As a hurricane forms, the air __________.

rises, cools, and releases latent heat, further heating up the hurricane's core

A hurricane acts as a heat engine, transferring heat from the __________.

warm, moist air above tropical seas into the core of the hurricane