Week 12 - Hurricanes

The Coriolis force does not play a role in hurricane circulations. T OR F

False

When occurring in the Atlantic Ocean they are known as hurricanes. What are they known as when occurring in the north-west Pacific?

tsunamis

 cyclones

typhoons

 tropical breezes

typhoons

What is the proper order of storm intensity in terms of increasing wind speed?

 tropical depression, hurricane, tropical storm

 tropical storm, hurricane, tropical depression

 hurricane, tropical depression, tropical storm

tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane

 tropical storm, tropical depression, hurricane

tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane

During which of the time spans listed below should hurricane formation in the North Atlantic be at a peak?

August-September

Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of which city?

New Orleans

The greatest number of hurricane-related deaths may be attributed to:

 lightning.

 inland freshwater flooding.

storm surge.

 strong winds.

 tornadoes.

storm surge

The doughnut-shaped wall of intense convective activity surrounding the center of the storm is called the:

 eye.

 core.

eye wall.

eye ring.

eye wall

Why don't hurricanes develop on or near the Equator?

 The question is false; hurricanes develop on the Equator all the time!

 The ITCZ inhibits the growth of the hurricane's thunderstorms.

The Coriolis effect is too weak to create rotation.

 The water is too warm to allow for the storm's

The Coriolis effect is too weak to create rotation

Why don't tropical cyclones originate in the South Atlantic Ocean?

 No fast ocean currents

Water temperatures are too cold

 No trade winds

 No jet stream

 Weak subtropical high pressure

Water temperatures are too cold

The Saffir-Simpson scale is used to establish categories of hurricane intensity. T OR F

True

A ________ is issued when sustained winds of 119 kph (74 mph) or higher are expected within a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less. (2 words)

hurricane warning

Hurricanes that affect the United States occur most frequently during the same months as tornadoes are most prevalent. T OR F

False

The Saffir-Simpson scale is used to establish categories of hurricane intensity. T OR F

True

Which of the following can diminish the intensity of a hurricane?

 moving over warmer water with more moisture above it

 frequent lightning

 significant increase in large-scale air flow aloft

moving over land

moving over land

Hurricanes develop most often in the late summer when ocean waters have reached what temperature?

 50 °F

80 °F

 60 °F

 70 °F

 100 °F

80 °F

A tropical storm is given a name that it will keep if it becomes a hurricane. t or f

True

One reason to name hurricanes is that the use of easily remembered names greatly reduces confusion when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time. T OR F

True

The approximately diameter of a mature hurricane is about 600 km (370 miles). T OR F

True

What is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane?

They occur in different ocean basins

What general circulation wind belt is the place of origin for hurricanes?

Trade winds

Why do hurricanes initially form only in the tropics?

Warm water temperatures are found there

The eye of the wall

has the greatest wind speeds

Why is the eye region of a hurricane largely free of precipitation and heavy clouds?

Sinking air motion

When a hurricane moves onto land, it declines in intensity. Which of the factor listed below contribute to this loss of punch?

friction

lack of warm, moist air

heating from below by the land surface

both friction and the lack of warm, moist air

both friction and the lack of warm, moist air

Today, warmer oceans mean more energy to intensify tropical storms and hurricanes, For each 1 degree Celsius of warming, the air can hold __ % more moisture.

7