Formation- Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm, and Hurricane

Formation-Tropical Depression

  • surface winds strengthen, flow more efficiently around and into the core of the system
    • tropical depression: tropical cyclone with wind speeds <39 mph
  • Coriolis effect spins the storm counterclockwise
  • surface winds converge with the central core and warm, moist air is pushed rapidly upwards (like a chimney)
  • warm air reaches the dew point which leads to water vapor condensing which leads to latent heat being released
  • surrounding air heated, strong updrafts created, rate of upward flow of warm air increased

Formation-Tropical Storm and Hurricane

  • converging winds continue to spiral the core
  • rotating rising and falling air masses generated by the heat (fuel) they acquire from the ocean
    • often called “heat engines”
  • tropical storm: tropical cyclone with wind speeds of 39-74 mph
  • once surface wind speeds are very high (>74 mph), the wind can’t reach the center of the storm anymore
    • eye of the storm develops
    • hurricane has formed

Characteristics

  • can be 620 miles wide, 9.3 miles high
  • eyes as wide as 8-10 miles
  • characterized by:
    • high (>74 mph), sustained winds
    • heavy rainfall
    • storm surges up to 20 ft higher than sea level

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