AS

Anatomy of a Hurricane

Anatomy of a Hurricane

  • not a single storm
  • a band of thunderstorms rotating around a center
  • most intense rain and wind gusts in rain bands
    • if tornadoes are associated with the hurricane they form

Eyewall and Eye

  • eyewall: a ring of tall thunderstorms encircling the eye
    • highest wind speeds and heaviest rainfall
  • warm air spirals upwards and outwards
  • outflow of air replaced with cool air that sinks into the center from the top of the storm
    • warm and absorbs moisture
    • leaves core of storm (eye) clear and cloud-free

Eye

  • hurricane hunters fly into the eye of the storm
    • eye is calm
  • Hurricane Irma, September 2017:
    • most powerful hurricane on record until Dorian (2019)
    • most intense hurricane to strike continental US since Katrina (2005)

Hurricane Dissipation

  • hurricanes dissipate (lose energy) if:

    1. they move over cool water (separated from heat source)
    2. they move over land (separated from moisture source)