What are the different names for tropical storms in various regions?
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What are the different names for tropical storms in various regions?
Tropical storms are known as:
Typhoons in the South China Sea and west Pacific Ocean.
Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and west coast of Mexico.
Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, and northern Australia.
What is the eye of a storm?
The eye is a calm central area around which winds spiral rapidly in a tropical storm.
What is the minimum wind speed for a tropical storm?
Tropical storms have wind speeds over 119 kmph.
True or False?
Tropical storms can form at any latitude.
False.
Tropical storms develop in tropical regions between 5° and 20° north and south of the equator.
What is the minimum sea-surface temperature needed for tropical storm formation?
Sea-surface temperatures over 27°C are needed to provide energy to power the storm.
What is a storm surge?
A storm surge occurs when large volumes of water are forced inland by the low pressure and strong winds associated with tropical storms.
True or False?
Tropical storms gain energy when they reach land.
False.
Tropical storms lose energy when they reach land or areas of cooler water.
What is the eye wall of a tropical storm?
The eye wall consists of large cumulonimbus clouds that form around the eye of the storm. The eye wall has the highest wind speeds and heaviest rainfall.
Define atmospheric instability in relation to tropical storm formation.
Atmospheric instability occurs in tropical regions when warm, moist air near the surface rises, creating instability and leading to the formation of clouds and precipitation.
True or False?
Condensation releases energy in the form of latent heat, which helps to power the storm.
True.
Condensation releases energy in the form of latent heat, which helps to power the storm.
What is the Saffir-Simpson scale used to measure?
The Saffir-Simpson scale is used to measure a tropical storm's intensity based on wind speeds.
True or False?
The Saffir-Simpson scale has 10 categories.
False.
The Saffir-Simpson scale has five categories, from Category 1 (weakest) to Category 5 (strongest).
What is the average number of tropical storms that form each year globally?
On average, there are about 80 tropical storms each year.
When is the peak of the tropical storm season in the Northern Hemisphere?
The peak months for tropical storms in the Northern Hemisphere are August, September and October.
What is the role of the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)?
The US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) releases long-term predictions of tropical storm activity.
True or False?
Predictions of tropical storms are always accurate and precise.
False.
Although prediction models are sophisticated, uncertainties remain and predictions are not always accurate and precise, especially over the longer term.
What types of data are gathered for tropical storm prediction?
The data gathered for tropical storm prediction includes:
Atmospheric pressure.
Wind speed and direction.
Humidity.
Sea surface temperatures.
Ocean currents.
What is the main challenge in predicting the landfall of a tropical storm?
The path of a tropical storm can be erratic, so landfall is not easy to predict accurately and precisely in advance.
When does the tropical storm season occur in the Southern Hemisphere?
In the Southern Hemisphere, the tropical storm season runs from November to April, with peak months falling in January, February and March.
What are the wind speeds of a category 5 storm?
A category 5 storm has wind speeds over 252 km/h (157 mph).
Define primary effects of tropical storms.
Primary effects are the immediate impacts of strong winds, high rainfall and storm surges. They include deaths, injuries and destruction of buildings.
True or False?
Short-term responses to tropical storms only occur after the storm has passed.
False.
Short-term responses occur when a tropical storm is forecast, as it is happening, and immediately after it has passed.
What was the peak wind speed of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013?
Typhoon Haiyan had sustained winds of over 195 mph (315 km/hr).
What was the estimated damage cost of Hurricane Harvey?
The estimated damage cost of Hurricane Harvey was $125 billion.
True or False?
Destruction of habitats and ecosystems is an example of a social impact of tropical storms.
False.
Destruction of habitats and ecosystems is an example of an environmental impact of tropical storms.
Give two short-term responses to tropical storms.
There are many short-term responses to tropical storms including:
Evacuation.
Rescue.
Temporary shelters.
Recovery of dead bodies.
Food, water and medical aid.
Why would people cover windows in preparation for a tropical storm?
People cover windows in preparation for tropical storms to prevent the glass from becoming flying debris.
Give three ways in which building design can help withstand tropical storms.
Three ways in which buildings can be designed to withstand tropical storms include:
Building on stilts to avoid flood waters.
Building with reinforced concrete.
Fixed roofs rather than tiles.
True or False?
The restoration of mangrove swamps can help to reduce the impact of tropical storms.
True.
The restoration of mangrove swamps can help reduce the impact of tropical storms because they help absorb and dissipate wave energy and storm surges.
What were the main social primary impacts of Typhoon Haiyan?
The main primary social impacts of Typhoon Haiyan included:
Over 6 000 deaths.
More than 1 million homes destroyed.
Approximately 4 million people displaced.
Almost 30 000 injuries.
Over 16 million people affected.